NDI Research on the Impact of Candidate Debates

Resources

Do Candidate Debates Strengthen Emerging Democracies?

Candidate debates are important, and highly publicized, campaign events. Increasingly, government and non-governmental organizations are organizing them in new democracies and hybrid regimes around the world, with the goals of increasing voter knowledge and access to information about policy platforms and promises, making it easier for voters to vote for candidates who share their policy preferences, promoting policy-based campaign and voting (as opposed to clientelistic or identity-based campaigning and voting), enhancing political tolerance, and reducing political violence. But, do candidate debates achieve these important goals?

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The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that believes a world rooted in freedom—where people have a say in how they’re governed and leaders are accountable to their people—fosters more stability, security and prosperity for everyone. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.