Democratisation and People's Rights Cluster, 9 Sept. 2004 Asia-Europe People's Forum.

Democratisation and People's Rights Cluster, 9 Sept. 2004 Asia-Europe People's Forum.

NEW POLITICS: TRANSFORMING ELITE INTO SUBSTANTIAL DEMOCRACY (People's movements and political parties)

Background

Regular elections, the right to assembly and freedom of speech are preconditions for the functioning of a democracy but not sufficient for meaningful popular participation. The poor and marginalized communities do not have the same access to decision-making processes and economic power as the rich who dominate political discourse and determine the rules of the democratic game.

These stark realities of the limits of elite democracy raise a number of important questions. In what ways and to what extent has electoral politics become an effective vehicle for vulnerable groups to address their concerns? Has democratic politics become another means to legitimize elite governance and thus consolidate the power of the powerful? In what ways do socio-economic disparities and cleavages undermine the development of a more substantive and participatory democracy?

Topics

This workshop will:

1. Highlight the experiences and lessons of existing and new political parties and social movements as they develop new forms of electoral engagement.
2. It will also explore the sometimes thorny issue of how social movements and progressive parties should relate to each other.
3. It will then move on to consider the role these parties and social movements can have in the transformation from elite to people-centered democracy -
   evidenced by communities having democratic control over policies and decisions shaping their lives;
   the creation of new democratic institutions that are responsive to people's needs;
   and the development of programs and strategies that can restrain private interest and, at the same time, redistribute wealth, and deepen popular control over state institutions.

Presenters

Hilary Wainwright (Red Pepper, UK)

Byung Ho Dan (Democratic Labour Party, Korea)

Tian Chua (Labour Resource Centre, Malaysia)

Marco Consolo (Rifondazione Comunista Party, Italy)

Moderator

Ronaldo Llamas (Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, Philippines)

Synthesizer

Reynaldo Gueco (Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, Philippines)

Tuur Elzinga (XminY, The Netherlands)