Publication Year: within 25 Years / Topic: Democratization

Author:: Frank Ching, Sunny Kai-sun Kwong, Michael M.Y. Suen, and Eric Bjornlund
Publication Date:: 03-2000
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Abstract:: Sir Winston Churchill once said, “At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper—no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of the point.” Churchill's statement in 1944 underlines the determination of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to encourage voters to turn out in record numbers for this September's Legislative Council ( LegCo) elections.
Topic:: Civil Society, Democratization, Economics, and Politics
Political Geography:: Israel and Hong Kong

Author:: Priit Järve
Publication Date:: 07-2000
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:: This paper applies a model of ethnic democracy elaborated by Professor Sammy Smooha of Haifa University, Israel, to Estonia, a case which is usually regarded as marginal in this regard. This application shows that Estonia can be characterised as a combination of a strongly-defined ethnic democracy (citizens of the core ethnic nation are dominating the other citizens) and a control system (citizens of the core ethnic nation are dominating the stateless individuals of non-core ethnic origin). As the number of stateless persons is diminishing, the system of control slowly disappears and ethnic democracy may prevail. The legal foundation of ethnic democracy in Estonia is in the Preamble of its Constitution.
Topic:: Democratization and Ethnic Conflict
Political Geography:: Israel, Eastern Europe, and Estonia

Publication Date:: 07-2000
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: International Crisis Group
Abstract:: In the fall of 2000, for the first time of their history, the people of Kosovo are being promised the opportunity to participate in democratic, internationally supervised local elections. The elections offer the people of Kosovo the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to democracy. They also present the international mission in Kosovo with a test of its resolve to overcome the political and practical problems associated with holding elections in a territory still suffering from the physical and the political scars of war.
Topic:: Democratization, Human Rights, International Cooperation, and Politics
Political Geography:: Eastern Europe and Kosovo

Publication Date:: 05-2000
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: International Crisis Group
Abstract:: The recent crackdown by the Belgrade regime on Serbia's independent media and political activists suggests that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is more vulnerable than it would appear. Since the Kosovo war ended, Milosevic has proven unable to expand his support base and must struggle with diminishing resources to keep restive constituencies intact. Despite its recognised weakness, the Serbian opposition is capable under certain conditions of removing Milosevic from power and offering better governance. The message of numerous public opinion polls over the past eight moths is that there is an anti-Milosvic majority in Serbia, but that the opposition must work together in coalitions to exploit it.
Topic:: Democratization, Non-Governmental Organization, and Politics
Political Geography:: Eastern Europe, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, and Serbia

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