Guide to the Framework
The basic idea is simple. The framework provides a systematic methodology for assessing democracy and freedom in any country, derived from the two basic principles of democracy:
Popular control, meaning the right of people to have a controlling influence over public decisions and decision-makers; and Political equality, meaning that people should be treated with equal respect and as of equal worth in the context of such decisions.
These two principles are nowhere fully realised. But to the extent that they are, we can call a system of public decision-making democratic. Democracy is not an all-or-nothing state of affairs, but a matter of the degree to which the two principles are realised in practice. A country's performance will vary over different areas of inquiry, and it may make progress or regress over a period of time.
We have identified deficiencies that are common to most democracies, in developed and developing nations (see The State of Democracy: Democracy Assessments in Eight Nations Around the World (David Beetham et al, IDEA/Kluwer Law International, 2002; available via www.brill.nl, or brill@turpinltd.com).
Here we concentrate on the ideas on which the framework is founded. But we should state clearly our view that the best people to act as auditors of democracy and freedom in a given country are its own citizens, rather than outsiders sitting in judgment upon it. Not only will they know and understand their country far better; the enterprise will contribute towards democratisation through the internal debates it can inspire.
How the assessment framework works
We assume that the idea of democracy is a common one and can be disaggregated into a set of specific criteria or indices which apply generally, however much countries may differ in their cultural traditions, institutional arrangements or development status. In the context of the modern state, however, our two basic principles - popular control and political equality - require a distinctive set of institutional arrangements and conditions in wider society:
- A guaranteed framework of equal citizen rights (including the rule of law, access to justice and economic and social rights as well as civil and political rights);
- Institutions of representative and accountable government; and
- A civil or democratic society (including free and pluralistic media and civic organisations, consultative processes and other forums to ensure popular participation in government and responsive government).
These three components of democracy provide the structure for the assessment framework. The framework is divided into four parts, each of which comprises of sections with "search questions" - our democratic criteria:
Block 1 contains sections on nationhood and citizenship; the rule of law; civil and political rights; economic and social rights
Block 2 has sections on free and fair elections; the democratic role of political parties; government accountability and effectiveness; civilian control of the military, police and intelligence services; minimising corruption
Block 3 has sections on the role of the media; political participation; government responsiveness; decentralisation and local government
Block 4 consists of a single section on the international dimensions of democracy, including issues of government autonomy from external control and government support for democracy and human rights abroad.
This is a large agenda, so each part is divided into sections that they can be handled separately and selectively, according to the time available and choice of priorities. Answering the "search" questions involves making a series of complex judgments about the state of actual democratic practice in your country, as well as the constitutional and legal position.
The analysis depends on whether you are looking back to assess the progress already made, or lost, or whether you are looking forward to what has still to be done. You will also have to decide whether to make comparisons with other states. Should you, for example, look primarily towards other countries in your region, or other nations at a similar stage in development, or for best practice wherever it may be. Such questions are fully answered in The IDEA Handbook (see above).
We plan to add more guidance on comparisons and best practice to the Democratic Audit website shortly. We are updating the blocks in early 2004. |
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