Legislative development in new democracies : going the next step

Butler, E. Derek (2002) Legislative development in new democracies : going the next step. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The spread of democracy around the world in the eighties and nineties has given rise to a new industry of development, known as political or democratic development. International organizations, aid agencies, public institutes and private consultants have increasingly turned to the support of elections, political parties, civil society and legislatures. Their work is conducted through technical/material programmes, skills transfers, and conceptual training and education. Academic interest has in turn expanded beyond traditional questions of democratic transition and consolidation to consider this new field of democratic development, but the literature remains limited. -- This thesis is an examination of that literature, specifically regarding legislative strengthening in new democracies. The review is enhanced by my practical experience managing political development programmes in transitional legislatures in a number of countries, but focusing specifically on Yemen and Morocco. -- In my experience, legislative development does not adequately consider the academic literature. The work is conducted without proper study or reflection. The literature is itself insufficient, but is growing. Nonetheless the work is done despite this gap in knowledge, and is further debilitated by a poor grasp on the internal politics and prospects for democratization in a given country. The conclusion of this thesis is that legislative development, having successfully entrenched itself as a form of development aid, must now go the next step and 'educate' itself to ensure success in achieving its ambitious objectives. In closing, I make particular 'policy' recommendations in this respect.

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