Full Coverage: Democracy

31.10.2003 Une immense explosion de gaz. Voilà ce qu'a été le soulèvement populaire qui secoua toute la Bolivie avant d'aboutir à la démission, le 17 octobre, du président Sánchez de Lozada. Il s'est enfuit en laissant derrière lui un nombre considérable de morts.

31.10.2003 BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA – Colombia has a new political star who just might outshine popular President Alvaro Uribe. Last weekend, Luis Eduardo Garzon, a salsa-dancing former communist who likes to be called simply "Lucho," was elected mayor of this wartorn nation's capital. His success was historic: It is the first time a leftist politician has won Bogotá's top post, and the mayor-elect garnered the highest number of votes in the city's history.

30.10.2003 PRISTINA, 30 October 2003 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo today welcomed the approval by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Adnan Merovci and Bogoljub Staletovic as chief executive officer and his deputy, respectively, of its permanent Secretariat.

30.10.2003 As Bangladesh's eighth Parliament completes two years this week, analysts say true democracy remains a pipedream, with the Opposition's chronic boycott of proceedings resulting in an autocratic regime, sans real progress or accountability.

30.10.2003 TIRANA, Albania -- Doris Pack, the head of a European Parliament delegation, said Tuesday (28 October) that Albania must resolve its political problems. Pack called on Prime Minister Fatos Nano and former Foreign Minister Ilir Meta to end their dispute and move forward in rebuilding institutions. She added that the cabinet cannot function with two deputy ministers and urged that the situation be rectified to ensure the normal work of government. She also urged that the controversy over the local election in Tirana be resolved and official results be published. Pack said these challenges hinder the country's integration into Europe.

29.10.2003 Un changement de style se fera sentir, dès le vendredi 31 octobre, quand le Dr Mahathir Mohamad, après vingt-deux années à la tête du gouvernement de Malaisie, passera le relais à son second Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Le consensus devrait toutefois l'emporter sur la confrontation. Quelque vingt-deux millions de Malaisiens vont souffler. Mais, dans un environnement fort complexe, l'éventualité d'un changement de cap ne se dessine pas encore.

29.10.2003 The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) regional ministerial meeting opened in the Kenyan capital Nairobi ahead of Heads of State Summit. The meeting has brought ministers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Mauritius and the Sudan.

From Peoples Daily Online

27.10.2003 La cause profonde de la violence en Afrique du Sud n’a presque pas changé depuis l’époque de l’apartheid. Selon le Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) de Johannesburg, aujourd’hui comme dans les années 80, le taux élevé de criminalité avec violence s’explique par l’exclusion économique et sociale. Ce qui a changé, c’est la conjoncture.

27.10.2003

Power and democracy

OpenDemocracy.net offers articles from experts around the world and discussions forums on key issues pertaining to democracy and power. How will U.S. hegemony change the world? What will be the impact of the internet on democratic ideals and infrastructure? What future for China, Zimbabwe, Europe? Join the debates today.

27.10.2003

24.10.2003 September 22, 2003
Florencia Copley of Fundacion Pacificar, Costa Rica, fears that the proposed new International Law Enforcement Academy to be built in the Central American country could imperil human rights and will reinforce US hemispheric dominance.

24.10.2003 September 22, 2003
Florencia Copley of Fundacion Pacificar, Costa Rica, fears that the proposed new International Law Enforcement Academy to be built in the Central American country could imperil human rights and will reinforce US hemispheric dominance.

24.10.2003 September 22, 2003
Florencia Copley of Fundacion Pacificar, Costa Rica, fears that the proposed new International Law Enforcement Academy to be built in the Central American country could imperil human rights and will reinforce US hemispheric dominance.

24.10.2003 Izzat Abdel Hadi of the Bisan Center for Research and Development argues that Palestinian national liberation depends on the democratic transformation of Palestinian official institutions, and the current “Road Map” offers real opportunities for both. July 29, 2003

23.10.2003 Rwanda has beaten Sweden by getting the highest proportion of women into parliament, voting them on to 39 seats in the lower chamber of deputies, a level amounting to 48.8% of the seats. In the voting, which began on September 30, women won 15 of the seats that were also open to men.

21.10.2003 WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct 21 (OneWorld) -- Amid rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program and new charges that it is sheltering senior al Qaeda leaders, including the son of Osama bin Laden, a major international think tank is calling on the Bush administration to seriously engage Teheran rather than to seek confrontation with it.

21.10.2003 LIMA, Oct. 21 (CSM) -– Latin America's biggest leadership problem used to be strongmen who overstayed their welcome. These days, leaders are just as likely to be tossed from the presidential palace before their time is up.

20.10.2003

Azerbaijan's controversial dynasty © Radio Netherlands Wereldomroep

Washington's failure to condemn Friday's flawed election of the son of an ailing ruler in Azerbaijan "establishes a dangerous precedent" in the region, and could serve to "encourage radicalism and instability," warns Eurasianet in a hard-hitting commentary.

19.10.2003 Interview with Fahri Musliu, the Belgrade correspondent for "Voice of America", on the Vienna talks between Albanians and Serbs on Kosovo.

19.10.2003 At its session of Friday, the Fourth Croatian Sabor (the Paliament) adopted the decision to dissolve after almost four years of work. This Sabor was constituted on February 2, 2000, and the Parliamentary Elections are set for November 23, 2003.