Platforms for pushing reform in Burkina Faso and Georgia

In a number of fledgling democracies – such as Burkina Faso and Georgia – it was the local people themselves rather than the international community that led dialogues to work out the reforms needed to improve democratic processes and institutions. These ‘dialogues for democratic development’ included politicians, political parties, academics, NGOs and civil society, the media and others with a vested interest in securing a democratic future.

In both Burkina Faso and Georgia International IDEA played the role of ‘honest broker’, bringing opposing forces together on neutral ground. As the dialogues progressed, IDEA convened meetings for the partners and supported them with a broad range of information, allowing them to make concrete recommendations towards reform on electoral systems, voting methods, conflict resolution, options for social inclusion, gender quotas, the role of EMBs, political parties and electoral dispute resolution mechanisms.

In Burkina Faso one of the earliest dialogues took place in 1997. The aim, according to Senegal’s Adama Dieng, distinguished international lawyer and former IDEA board member, was “to increase the opportunities for dialogue, consensus-building and consultation within the Burkinabe society . . . to suggest new avenues for democratic development and thereby generate new dynamics to advance democracy.”

The government responded positively to the conclusions emerging from the dialogues to make reforms in the political system. It established a cabinet of national unity and created a truth commission to investigate past crimes and end impunity.

At the time IDEA left Burkina Faso the reins for promoting democracy lay in the hands of the Centre for Democratic Governance (CDG), an NGO established with the help of IDEA. Today this NGO still lobbies on issues like constitutionalism and electoral reform.

In Georgia a similar dialogue process occurred with local people taking charge and coming together to reflect on their situation and articulate a reform agenda some ten years after independence. In 2001 IDEA was asked to coordinate a two year programme of dialogues among activists, practitioners and academics to tease out a vision for Georgia.

The Rose Revolution of 2003 underscored the public’s desire for democratic structures which involved limits to presidential power. Opposing positions needed to be reconciled and IDEA played a central role in facilitating the dialogues that brought people together to agree on solutions to the concerns including the conduct of elections, the balance of power between the parliament and the presidency, and increasing the level of participation in political life.

IDEA has long since closed operations in Georgia, but key partner organizations such as the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development and the Centre for Democratic Studies continue to this day to push the debate forward.