Democracy at the Local Level - A Guide for the South Caucasus

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This Guide is designed to offer insights into the critical elements that shape systems of good local governance in the South Caucasus region. It also serves as a tool for local decision-makers and practitioners as they seek to learn more about models and practices of local democracy, particularly from an international comparative perspective.

The Guide is divided into three main themes: local elections, political parties and citizens’ participation. These themes are explored along with an analysis of new local governance systems by independent experts from the region. The Guide includes case studies on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

INTRODUCTION

Igor Koryakov and Timothy D. Sisk

I. Trends Affecting Local Democracy

II. Democracy and Local Governance: Principles and Characteristics

III. Systems of Local Governance

III-A. The National Context

III-B. Basic Types and Forms

III-C. Criteria for Comparison: Size, Density and Settlement Patterns

PART 1: REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

Igor Koryakov and Timothy D. Sisk

1. The Importance of Local Elections

2. Elections: Legitimacy, Accountability and Trust

3. Electoral Systems in the Local Context

4. Types of Electoral System

5. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Different Electoral Systems

6. Special Considerations for Local Elections

7. Political Parties

PART 2: PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

Igor Koryakov and Timothy D. Sisk

1. Options: Types of Citizen Participation

2. Menu: Examples of Proactive Forms of Citizen Participation

3. Designing Citizen Participation: Agenda and

Participant Selection

4. The Roles of Local Authorities and Citizens in the

Participatory Process

5. Referendums and Citizen Initiatives

6. Principles of Successful Citizen Participation Initiatives

7. Barriers to Citizen Participation

8. Evaluating Citizen Participation

PART 3: CASE STUDIES OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

An Overview of Local Government in the South Caucasus Countries

CASE STUDY 1: LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE IN ARMENIA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Mkrtich Gimishyan and Hripsimeh Manoukyan

CASE STUDY 2: THE FIRST LOCAL ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN:

AN OVERVIEW AND EVALUATION Rufat Garagezli

CASE STUDY 3: GROWING ELECTORAL ACTIVITY OF THE GEORGIAN PUBLIC: THE 2002 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS David Losaberidze

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