Freedom House Director Points to Emergence of Democracy as a Development Priority
July 21, 2003
by Jennifer Windsor
In an upcoming article for the "Fletcher Forum of World Affairs," Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor finds that increasing numbers of analysts view democratic institutions in a society as a necessary condition for development. Furthermore, she observes that in recent decades, both the UN and US foreign-aid policy have made democratization in developing countries an increasing priority.
Windsor writes "it is obvoius that the poor do not have to choose between economic opportunities and democratic rights. The remaining question is how donors can most effectively help them to achieve both."
Windsor points to the inclusion of gender empowerment as a key component of the UN Development Program's annual Human Development Indices as one reflection of the emerging consensus on democracy and development. In addition, the author highlights the Bush Administration's proposals for a Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), intended to reward well-governed developing democracies, as an example of policy initiatives informed by the research she reviews.
For more information about and analysis of the MCA, users may consult the Center for Global Development's website.
Link: /file/228_Jennifer Windsor Article.pdf [84 KB PDF]
Keywords: democracy, development, governance, institutions, Millennium Challenge Account