Inclusive Peace’s Post

It is the right time for international partners to put their weight behind the new agreement and seize the moment to support civil society and political actors in holding peaceful and fair elections.  https://ow.ly/8kkC50RA4Y5

 Your thoughts and feedback are valuable to us. How do you feel about the decision to delay the elections? Do you think it will benefit or harm the democratic process in Cameroon? Share your views in the comments below and let's engage in a meaningful discussion about the future of our nation's democracy?

A common thread runs through many of the elections taking place around the world this year: a rise in populism and nationalism, a move towards protectionism and centralized power, and a tendency for voters to oust incumbents. There is also a notable anti-war sentiment amid escalating conflicts. This trend is particularly evident in the European elections, where the political landscape is becoming more divided and fragmented. #europeanelections #cypruseconomicsociety

More than 60 countries are heading to the polls this year, marking 2024 as the largest election year in history. 🌍 🗳 With half the world's population voting, the stakes are high, especially in a world marked by extreme polarisation. In my latest blog, I reflect on how national dialogues and unity governments might complement elections to address societal and political tensions more effectively. Sometimes, elections alone can exacerbate divides, especially in "winner takes all" systems. For instance, France's 2022 national dialogue aimed to tackle pressing issues by involving voices from all political and civil society sectors. Similarly, South Africa's recent grand coalition government showcases how unity governments can foster consensus and mitigate polarisation. I'm grateful for the inspiration from colleagues at the 6th National Dialogue Conference workshop on the linkage between Elections and National Dialogues, especially Matthias Wevelsiep, Paula Tarvainen, and Hope Tichaenzana CHICHAYA. Your insights have been invaluable in shaping my thoughts on the trends we're seeing this election year.   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dtHqNV3q #NationalDialogue #UnityGovernments #Peacebuilding #Elections2024 #voting

World elections: Midway Through the Ultimate Election Year: How the World Has Voted So Far "...2024 has been described as a “make-or-break year for democracy,” as the sheer number of elections—and what they reflect or fail to reflect about the will of various peoples—could significantly shape the course of the world’s future..." 'Democracy around the world has been on decline in recent years, and the institution is still in a precarious position,' Samuel Woolley, the project director for propaganda research at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Media Engagement, tells TIME. This year will serve as a large-scale test to an institution already strained by growing trends of authoritarianism and political extremism, and elections in leading democracies like the U.S., in particular, Woolley says, will serve as 'a bellwether of what is to come for the state of global governance.' (In this article) are all the national elections around the world this year, with results through July, in chronological order..." https://lnkd.in/g6qC_GuH #elections #democracy #powertothepeople #willofthepeople

SPONSORED CONTENT: 2024's politically charged global landscape could significantly alter market directions, with crucial elections in USA, UK, India, Russia, and SA. Political shifts may impact long-term investment outcomes. Will 'Trumpolitics' return? In SA, will opposition parties capitalize on ANC's weakness, and could coalition governments reshape the political landscape? Answers post 29 May 2024 elections. #2024Elections #GlobalPolitics

https://lnkd.in/gNMVSU7k Anti-democratic movements are surging around the world, threatening to undermine elections and replace them with oligarchy. Pro-democracy movements mainly focus on defending elections, even though most people think that elections alone are inadequate. While elections dominate current thinking about democracy, the history and future of democracy is much broader. For over 5,000 years, people have built up competing waves of electoral, direct, deliberative, and participatory democracy. We are now seeing a transition, however, from waves to ecosystems. Rather than seeking one single solution to our ailing democracy, a new generation of democracy reformers is weaving together different democratic practices into balanced democratic ecosystems. This white paper provides a roadmap for this emerging next stage of democratic innovation. It reviews the limitations of elections, the different waves of democratic innovation and efforts to connect them, and key challenges and strategies for building healthy ecosystems of democracy.

Read our latest Turkey Analyst article, "Not Condemned to the Authoritarian Right: Turkey’s Local Elections Show the Way to a Different Future," by Halil Karaveli. https://bit.ly/3TXWIOC

The lesson to be drawn from the year of elections so far is that the rise of populist and authoritarian politicians is not inevitable. Democratic backsliding can and has been resisted in many countries that hold elections. But democratic norms cannot be secured with violence, judicial remedies (for example, the use of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump), the rise of a new charismatic leader, or any other quick fix. What remains effective is the steady, often boring work of democratic politics: making arguments, convincing and mobilizing voters, adjusting policies, building coalitions, and, if necessary, making compromises where the best gives way to the possible. Even in a dispiriting time for global democracy, citizens still have agency to move toward better futures.