Democratic Institutions and Citizen Participation

At FES we believe that a flourishing democracy relies on efficient and transparent political institutions as well as an empowered civil society. Democratic institutions should represent the interests of the population and allow peaceful, free and fair elections. They should furthermore promote open and critical debates among political and civil society actors.

To consolidate a culture of democracy it is necessary to support pro-democratic actors within parties, society and the state as a whole. FES aims to improve the functioning and transparency of political structures at all levels, promote a more active democratic participation within all parties and reduce the risk of political conflict and electoral violence.

Therefore, at FES we are engaged in a continuous dialogue on democracy with different political institutions and personalities such as political parties, parliamentarians and civil society organisations. For instance, we cooperate closely with Tanzania’s ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (“Party of the Revolution”) concerning the promotion of social democratic ideas and values.

Besides strengthening democratic dialogue within and between political parties, FES supports a wide range of social actors with different political orientations. We believe that bringing together civil society organisations, media practitioners as well as election stakeholders and facilitate their mutual understanding fosters an environment of respect and tolerance and has a moderating influence on potential conflict.