International IDEA

International IDEA

Elections and Conflict Project

By Sead Alihodzic

Programme Officer – International IDEA

election-related violence

International IDEA

Some definitions of election-related violence point to:

(Jeff Fisher - 2002; Timothy Sisk - 2009)

Acts of:

• psychological harm (intimidation, coercion, blackmail)• physical harm (including assassinations and killing)

Directed against:

• electoral actors

• electoral events

• electoral facilities

• election materials

some incentives for resorting to violence

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Motives:

• Seeking electoral advantages Committing violent acts against political competitors and their supporters

• Disrupting elections Incentive of those who are denied participation in elections, or for whatever reason have particular interest that elections do not take place

• Mistrusted and flawed electoral processes Those who share perceptions that elections are manipulated and rigged

• Violence as response to violence

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►devastating for human rights

►devastating for economy

►devastating for democracy

consequences

Election-related violence is:

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Enhance global capacities for prevention and mitigation of election-related violence

TOOL OBJECTIVES TOOL DESIGN

- Global public good

- Action oriented

- Sustainable

- Customisable (can fit into any social context)

- Bridging gap between learning and doing

- Evolves with use (stores data, allows cross-election analysis)

2008 IDEA strategic decision2008 IDEA strategic decision

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IDEA experiences

Literature review

Desk research

Study visits

Global consultations (Johanesburg)

Expert meeting (Stockholm)

Training, workshops, conferences

Factors Data sources

Data Analysis

Actions

work done: 2008-2009

Existing Approaches

IDEA theoretical/analytical

concept

IDEA tool design

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IDEA tool structure

KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES

ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

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WIDER SOCIAL CONTEXT- existing violence and structural factors -

TROUBLED VOTER

REGISTRATION

HEATED PARTY CAMPAIGN

PROBLEMATIC VOTING

ethnic and religious conflicts

corruption

poverty

displaced persons and refugees

party militias

terrorism

bias judiciary

political revenge

ELECTIONS

CONTESTED LEGISLATION

LACK OF TRUST IN EMBs

INADEQUATE FUNDS

INADEQUATE PLANNING

INADEQUATE EDUCATION

AND TRAINING

MISMANAGEMENT OF APPEALS

REJECTION OF RESULTS

organized crime

neighbourhood violence

violence against women

State building- buffer -

human security

reconciliation

justice and rule of law

economic development

political institutions

Theoretical framework

Internal Factors External FactorsLegislationUnfit Electoral systemContested electoral lawLack of adequate ground rules

Planning and implementationInadequate system for dispute resolution Lack of trust in electoral management bodiesInadequate operational planning and financingInadequate security arrangements

Training and education

Poor training for electoral officials No/poor training programmes for PPs, CSOs mediaPoor or no civic educationPoor voter information

Voter and candidate registrationProblematic voter registrationProblematic registration of political party/candidatesProblematic accreditation of observers

Electoral campaignLimited media access Provocative media campaigning Provocative political party rallying Provocative and violent actions by political parties

Voting operationsDeficit, destruction and loss of election materials Lack of transparency re-special and external voting Problematic voting dayProblematic ballot counting and result tallying Lost/destroyed tabulation formsFraud suspected

Verification of resultsMishandling a final round of complaints and appealsDelay in publication of official results Rejection of results

internal

external

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Factor description:

1. context

2. empirical cases

3. interrelated factors

4. observable indicators

5. data collection and analysis

Knowledge resources- factors

Poverty, inequality and high unemployment

Exclusion of minority / marginalized groups

Changing power dynamics

Gender-based discrimination and violence

Presence of non-state armed actors and neighbouring violent actors

Presence of organized armed actors

Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes

Human rights violations’

Natural hazards

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Country & elections

specific model

Internal FactorsLegislationUnfit Electoral systemContested electoral lawLack of adequate ground rules

Planning and implementationInadequate system for dispute resolution Lack of trust in electoral management bodiesInadequate operational planning and financingInadequate security arrangements

Training and education

Poor training for electoral officials No/poor training programmes for PPs, CSOs mediaPoor or no civic educationPoor voter information

Voter and candidate registrationProblematic voter registrationProblematic registration of political party/candidatesProblematic accreditation of observers

Electoral campaignLimited media access Provocative media campaigning Provocative political party rallying Provocative and violent actions by political parties

Voting operationsDeficit, destruction and loss of (non)sensitive materials Lack of transparency re-special and external voting Problematic voting dayProblematic ballot counting and result tallying Lost/destroyed tabulation formsFraud suspected

Verification of resultsMishandling a final round of complaints and appealsDelay in publication of official results Rejection of results

External Factors

Analytical instruments

Trend analysis

Risk Mapping

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Improved Electoral Management and Justice

ImprovedPeace

Architecture

ImprovedElectoral Security

Prevention and mitigation

the way ahead 2012-2014

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► Piloting (Africa, LA, AP) 2011/2012/2013

► Final phase of development 2013

► Launch 2013

2014 - user registration

- feedback

- updates

- users’ network

practical and policy values

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► COLLABORATION - Brings together different communities of practice in addressing election related violence (designed to create such incentives)

► ACTION - Helps understanding multiplicity of factors (internal and external) and their main characteristics relating to:

- dynamics- short and long term prevention strategies

► METHODOLOGICAL CONSISTANCE – Allows consistent data collection and analysis (documentation, policy, advocacy)

► LEARNING – Becomes platform that facilitates collection and exchange of best practices developed at national and/or

international level.

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Thank You!