The purpose of this publication is to provide a set of ideas and strategies for political parties that wish to become formal opposition parties within their country’s respective legislative branch. This guide includes institutionalized rules and traditions on the role of a formal opposition in many countries, and also includes advice from political parties in countries new to democratic governance who have served in the opposition.
At its core, democracy is about citizens having a say in how they are governed through accountable, transparent and inclusive government. Increasingly, social media is the public square in which debates and discussions take place. In our daily lives we all see the role that social media plays in shaping public opinion and coloring political events. We have seen how virtual tools bring communities together, but also spread discord and tear them apart.
This toolkit is designed to aid visionary, ambitious party members who are on the peripheries of power, but eager to plan and implement internal reforms aimed at improving a party’s internal democracy and electoral appeal. Taking the Wheel seeks to equip party change agents with a roadmap for the implementation strategies and soft skills needed to navigate the arduous party reform process.