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DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD Tanni Mukhopadhyay Policy Specialist, Human Development Report Office, UNDP NY

DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD Tanni Mukhopadhyay Policy Specialist, Human Development Report Office, UNDP NY. Imperatives for the theme. Further the work of HDR 2000 on Human Rights; linking the rights framework to obligations and accountability.

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DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD Tanni Mukhopadhyay Policy Specialist, Human Development Report Office, UNDP NY

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  1. DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD Tanni Mukhopadhyay Policy Specialist, Human Development Report Office, UNDP NY

  2. Imperatives for the theme • Further the work of HDR 2000 on Human Rights; linking the rights framework to obligations and accountability. • To contribute to the debates on governance which have been dominated by 2 overriding concerns • a) making markets work better - hence emphasis primarily on transparency, corruption, rule of law, etc • b) undue emphasis merely on particular kinds of electoral arrangements and regime structures.

  3. Human Development • Entails expanding capabilities to enlarge the choices people have in their lives • To enjoy a decent standard of living • To be able to survive and enjoy good health • To be knowledgeable, educated and free to express oneself • To enjoy political freedoms and to be able to participate in community life

  4. Human Development understood as capabilities highlight the importance of • Freedom from want • Freedom from fear • Freedom of expression • Freedom of association

  5. Democracy and Growth: evidence to date • Democracy is no obstacle to growth • Low growth is no obstacle to democracy

  6. Athenian model : participatory democracy Vs Republican Rome model: representative democracy

  7. Democracy Deficits • The challenges of establishing, consolidating and deepening democracy confront all countries

  8. Democratic institutions and practice are characterised by: • Accountability of the powerful to those whose lives are affected by their decisions • Enhanced participation by members of society • Free and fair contestation over political power

  9. The democracy a nation chooses to develop depends on its history and circumstances – countries will necessarily be ‘differently democratic’

  10. The Quality of Democracy in a Country • can be judged by assessing how accountable, participatory and fair the institutions and politics are in that society

  11. Democratic institutions adhere to certain principles • Separation of power • Checks and balances • Independence of judiciary • Independent oversight bodies (electoral commission, HRC, Ombudspersons and so on) • Civilian control over the police and the military

  12. Democratic practice and politics have to do with the public domain where there is • Independent Media (both from state and corporate control) • Diverse, varied and plural civil society (but is not fragmented) • Political parties that are internally democratic and rule abiding

  13. The perception of injustice in the global arena is often the source for growing anger and seething discontent between nations and people

  14. Millennium Development Goals – a compact between nations

  15. From your experience in your CO share in a brief presentation of about 5 minutes: • Make an assessment on the quality of democracy in your country of assignment or • on inclusive global governance referring to the 3 principles of assessment of democracy.

  16. Highlight the challenges faced in your program area in terms of democratic governance. • What recommendations would you like to make to ensure a comprehensive intervention.

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