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The Globalization of Democracy:
The Emerging Democracies Forum
Sana'a, Yemen
June 27-30, 1999
by
Abdul Karim Al-Eryani, Prime Minister of Yemen, and Kenneth D. Wollack, President of NDI
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NDI President Kenneth Wollack and His Excellency President Saleh of Yemen
preside over the Opening Presentations at the Emerging Democracies Forum.
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of
the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
- Winston Churchill
Cambodia, Rwanda, Albania, and Serbia were not large or so-called 'strategically
important' countries. But their failed political systems led to untold human suffering, fueled regional instability
and cost the international community billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping missions.
At the same time, however, a similar class of countries is making quiet democratic progress, despite serious economic
and social challenges. Admittedly, the political transformation in these unheralded democracies is far from complete
and the outcome is not assured. But the success or failure of their political systems will also have major repercussions.
Representatives from sixteen of these emerging democracies gathered in late June in Yemen, itself a country in
the early stages of a democratic opening. They represented nations as diverse as Mongolia and Mali, Ghana and Guatemala,
Macedonia and Mozambique. Color, costume, culture- all differed. Even communication among them was not easy - they
spoke six different languages. Some were heads of state and government, cabinet ministers and speakers of parliament;
others represented opposition parties, or nascent civic organizations, labor unions and business groups. Yet they
shared a common experience and predicament: all had begun their democratic experiment in relative obscurity and
without the international attention they need and deserve.
Similarities and differences emerged and were debated at the 'Emerging Democracies Forum', held in the ancient
city of Sana'a, Yemen, situated on the Arabian peninsula. The Forum was supported by the United Nations Development
Programme, the governments of Japan, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland and the U.S., along with organizations
such as the World Bank, National Endowment for Democracy, the International Labor Organization and the British-based
Westminster Foundation. Representatives from these countries and organizations were also on hand in Yemen.
The participants had an ambitious agenda: to reaffirm their commitment to democratic government, celebrate their
achievements, and share experiences and ideas on how best to overcome the daunting problems that still confront
their countries as they continue to pursue economic and political reform simultaneously. In the relative informality
of discussion groups, they explored anti-corruption measures, mechanisms to enhance the political participation
of women, standards for free and fair elections, development of responsive and accountable legislatures, efforts
to encourage the growth of civic groups and a free press, and rule of law initiatives.
Despite different histories and traditions, there was no evidence of what Samuel Huntington has called the "clash
of civilizations" among the 350 participants. At the conclusion of the Forum, they demonstrated their determination
and commitment to reform by approving a far-reaching document, the 'Sana'a Declaration', which recognized the universality
of the democratic idea and the growing interconnectedness between economic and political reform. It noted that
"the promise of economic prosperity enjoyed by all citizens is more likely realized in a democratic political
environment based on respect for human rights, popular political participation, and the rule of law." But
most important, the Declaration provided specific ways to ensure government accountability and to apply democratic
principles - a "road map for democratic development," as one participant described it.
Promoting civil society, for example, would include tax-exempt status for civic organizations and legislation that
would not restrict the activities of these groups. Implementing procedures to ensure public access to committee
sessions and holding public forums would advance 'transparency' in government decision-making. Public confidence
in elections would be enhanced by establishing independent election commissions that are nonpartisan or politically
balanced.
Those who assembled at the Yemen gathering recognized that they bear primary responsibility for development in
their respective countries but urged the international community not to focus solely on strategically important
countries or on crisis situations. "Democratic progress in our states contributes to peace, stability and
prosperity both within and beyond our borders," they noted in the Declaration. In a remarkable call, they
advocated that "the donor community and international financial institutions use democratic criteria and "give
priority to those countries implementing political as well as economic reforms" in determining aid, loan,
and debt reduction policies.
NDI plans to maintain the networks established in Yemen through regional consultations, exchange visits by individual
experts, this interactive website and other mechanisms that will promote ongoing transfers of ideas and experiences.
There is no recipe book for democracy, no 'one-size-fits-all' solution. Nor is the task of building open and pluralistic
political systems an easy task. If successful, these countries can serve as models for their larger, more powerful
neighbors. If they regress, the human and financial costs will be great. Yet there are signs that the Sana'a Declaration
is already creating change. According to political party leaders in Yemen, the conference has already influenced
politics in the Forum's host country. A recent congress of the ruling General People's Congress Party elected a
female parliamentarian to the party's top committee and 50 women-an increase of 19- to the next highest committee.
"Yemen must be the first country to follow through on the Sana'a Declaration and its principles," said
one party leader. "This is a direct fruit of the Emerging Democracies Forum."
[ Introduction ] [ Declaration
] [ Conference Transcripts ]
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