FRIDE Democratisation

Development, security and energy: improving coherence

Amelia Hadfield, Richard Youngs — 2008-10-13T19:47:00+01:00

David McNew/Getty Images

The ethos of EU development policy is changing. Incorporating both political and security goals, EU development co-operation has taken on a more holistic identity. It is increasingly linked to more ambitious outcomes in which good governance, human rights, conflict resolution and the challenges of sustainability all play a part.

This widened scope provides a platform to engage with EU policy on energy security. This document, funded under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities theme of EDC2020 and co-ordinated by EADI, provides a snapshot of the policy connections linking development, broad security goals and specific energy objectives.

Can the EU effectively manage a policy nexus between securitised development and energy security? It certainly has the potential to do so. But fundamental policy changes are required before it can claim to be on the road towards this goal.

Hybrid regimes or regimes in transition?

Leonardo Morlino — 2008-10-13T19:47:00+01:00

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

In recent times, growing interest in democratisation and the development of associated research has aroused considerable interest in the more specific theme of the spread of hybrid or ‘transitional’ regimes.

This Working Paper outlines the quantitative terms of democratisation; pinpoints the pertinent analytic dimensions, starting with definitions of the terms ‘regime’, ‘authoritarianism’ and ‘democracy’; defines a ‘hybrid regime’; proposes a typology of hybrid regimes; and, finally, tries to answer the key question posed in the title.

As becomes clear, this question is not only closely bound up with prospects for change in the nations that have such ambiguous forms of political organisation, but also, more generally, with the spread of democratisation. The main findings of the Working Paper point to the need to ensure the existence of institutions largely capable of performing their functions and to the potentially strong role of governments and international organisations in helping to build state institutions, even prior to the establishment of democracies.

Interviews with Kjell Magne Bondevik and Sadig al-Mahdi

Publicaciones FRIDE — 2008-10-13T19:47:00+01:00

Beginning in early 2007, the Club of Madrid, in collaboration with FRIDE, embarked on a series of dialogue missions supported by the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and the UN Democracy Fund to strengthen democracy and promote freedom of association in the Middle East and North Africa. During 2007 and 2008, the Club of Madrid and FRIDE travelled to 3 countries in the region, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco, undertaking a series of missions in each.

Sadig al-Mahdi, former prime minister of Sudan

In this interview, Sadig al-Mahdi, the former Prime Minister of Sudan and a Member of the Club of Madrid, observes that foreign mediation concerning domestic issues is normally frowned upon in the MENA region: "However, for the Club of Madrid, they made an exception, they welcomed the Club of Madrid." According to Kjell Magne Bondevik the Club of Madrid has now formulated "concrete" recommendations that will be conveyed to the highest levels of government in each country during the latter part of 2008 and early 2009.

Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister of Norway

Sadig al-Mahdi, a renowned Arab intellectual, has given much thought to democratic reform in an Islamic context. He observes that Islamic movements which embrace "pluralism" and accept democratic values should not be confused with those that reject democracy and thrive on "arrested reform".

The politics of energy

Jos Boonstra, Edward Burke, Richard Youngs — 2008-10-13T19:47:00+01:00

Corbis

Expanding upon the conclusions identified in FRIDE WP 65 "Energy: a reinforced obstacle to democracy?", this paper by Jos Boonstra, Edward Burke and Richard Youngs adopts a case study approach to evaluate the complex relationship between energy and democracy.

Using the examples of Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, the authors observe that while high energy prices have undoubtedly empowered the regimes of these countries, rising expectations regarding the use of natural resource wealth have also led to increased popular protest against the mismanagement of state revenues.

They explore the notion that while it would be too simplistic to presume that democracy support has been entirely over-ridden by energy security concerns, both the US and the EU need to focus far more consistently and systematically on the new concern with ‘energy governance’ if they are to have the kind of positive impact necessary for their own longer-term security interests.

Energy: a reinforced obstacle to democracy?

Richard Youngs — 2008-10-13T19:47:00+01:00

Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Rising oil and gas prices appear to have helped shore up autocratic producer states across the world. They also seem to have led Western states to dilute their support for democratic reforms in these countries. But while this conventional wisdom correctly restates the problematic relationship between energy and democracy, the overall picture is more complex.

This paper reveals that the opaque management of increased oil and gas revenues has sparked pressure for governance reforms from within producer states and has also encouraged new international initiatives linking energy security with good governance.