Elections are an essential feature of representative
democracy, but they can also be conflict inducing processes that ultimately
call into question the legitimacy of the election itself. In such cases, the
population can face increased risk of violence during the different phases of
the electoral processes. These risks are particularly present in fragile states
emerging from post-conflict situations or periods of prolonged conflict as well
as in countries with a high prevalence of organized crime. All suffer from
compromised security, or from democratic institutions and processes that have
been undermined by violence or political distortion.
In order to respond to such challenges, Electoral
Management Bodies and other actors increasingly seek to identify the structural
and contextual causes undermining the viability and legitimacy of the electoral
process.
IDEA's Democracy Conflict and Security
initiative is developing a tool to identify structural factors that risk
compromising the integrity of electoral processes. This methodology is
complementary to IDEA's Elections and Conflict Tool.
During 2011 this tool will be piloted in Colombia by
the civil society organization MOE (Mision de Observacion Electoral); and in
Kenya, by the Kenyan Electoral Management Bodies.
