International Co-operation for Democracy and Good Governance: Moving Towards a Second Generation?

The 1990s have seen the gradual emergence of the promotion of democracy and the strengthening of good governance as both an objective of and a condition for development co-operation. What has democracy assistance achieved? What works, what doesn't and why? After a decade of democracy assistance and considerable resources expended, the strategies pursued by international donors appear to have fallen short of their intended impact and effectiveness. This realisation requires revisiting the assumptions underlying the current practice and exploring alternative strategies. Second generation democracy aid will need to focus more explicitly and more rigorously on issues of power and politics. The concept of political pacts for democratic governance could prove useful in establishing genuine partnerships for development.