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Topic Discussion I
Politics of Hard Choices
Political Transition and Economic Restructuring
Room 4
(12 of 12 pages)
Speaker: What I have heard today in this morning session and this session
gives a very optimistic picture of the situation in the member countries of the emerging democracies. I feel that
the hardships are the real obstacles to democracy in these countries and are surmountable. Those who spoke in an
optimistic tone have their own reasons and I would like to join them. The difficulties and hardships are big and
I had big fears that some of these countries would go back on democracy for several reasons. These reasons include
the fact that these countries have lived for a long time under authoritarian regimes where there was no room for
pluralists. The people and their governments got used to that type of rule and there was a rejection of other opinion
or democracy and this feeling still persists. It is part of the makeup of these people.
In trying to reply to the first question in your paper on participation or involvement in decision making I would
like to note that the people's involvement cannot be positive except if we have clear mechanisms such as local
government. That is people should take part in their municipalities, their localities and they work for parallel
development in their provinces. This can be done through some sort of self rule. This is part of the mechanism
of democratization. We are trying to do that in Yemen but so far we haven't promulgated a law on local government.
There are differences on how to adopt local government systems. This would give people a greater share in decision
making. Development cannot be parallel or fully and comprehensive except if the people involved are stakeholders,
they themselves are the ones that pay the taxes and they contribute to the development of their provinces. This
issue is a real problem in democratization in Yemen. We are trying at present to overcome that problem. The government
has adopted about seven laws and they are put to parliament but every time there is a change there is a clear indication
in the constitution that people in government are democratically elected. But there are differences on this issue
and this is a vital issue. Another problem is about people's participation through trade unions and independent
grass roots democratic organizations. The economic policy and the World Bank conditionality and privatization leaves
workers without work. They are laid off. How can you expect workers to defend themselves.
The third point I will go very quickly on. Property. How can you make a distinctive line between the ruling party
and public property? What belongs to the party and what belongs to the nation or the people? How can you put public
property under the rule of the authorities. In these countries the situation is different and there is some sort
of rivalry between who is going to rule, who is going to hold the power and who is going to hold the wealth. It
is difficult and there is a need for a clear demarkation.
The fourth point is about mass media and public information. This is part of the democratization process. I have
many worries and problems and I hope that this forum will adopt them so that our countries will not withdraw from
them.
Chair: We will write a one page summary and give it to everyone. I thank everyone for participating.
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