Electoral Observation Missions: EU vs. NGO's
Elections Worldwide are Observed by the EU and Different Non-Profits
Apr 12, 2009 Irina-Raluca Ivan
Electoral Observation Missions (EOM's) are undoubtedly useful tools for the democratization process in developing countries. Both the European Union and different global and local non-governmental organizations (NGO's) are sending electoral observers worldwide to evaluate the fairness of the elections.
Differences Between the EU and NGO's Electoral Observation Missions
A first difference that deserves attention is the selection of observers. The EU selection of observers is most of the times quite random. The procedure is different in the Member States, but generally speaking the EU acts as an employer who has to choose between a huge amount of resumes. Consequently, the selection is impersonal, and many times there is the risk to send less experienced and unprepared observers in the missions. In the case of NGOs, there is usually a network of local associations or branches of an international NGO that sends observers. They are usually working or volunteering for those NGO's for a certain amount of time and the selection if made according to their performance within the structure. Also, the training provided by civil society actors prior to elections is most of the times more effective and complete than the one offered to the EU short-term observers.
Secondly, the European Union's EOMs are extremely focused on security and tend to separate the observers or “protect” them from the people of the host countries. The security issues is a core element, but interaction with the people and the effort to understand the local culture, even for the short time of the mission, is beneficial both for the observers and for the locals because they can share precious information. People would come to realize why observers are sent to the field, what are the problems, while the observers could understand the common citizens' perceptions about the political and the electoral process.
Growth of Non-Governmental Organizations in Electoral Monitoring.
Many important international NGOs started to work on election assistance and monitoring. The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, the National Democratic Institute, the European Network for Election Monitoring are just a few who expanded their work on democratic assistance and electoral observation for developing countries. One of their biggest advantage over the European Union's electoral missions is represented by their independence, which is translated in the field in less political pressure. They also use their funds more efficiently because their resources are limited. By nature of their work and relationships, these organizations are more likely to cooperate and encourage civil society organizations in the host countries. Positive steps were taken during recent years by the EU in collaborating with different NGO's, but there are still many efforts to be made in this direction. By establishing enough links with international NGO's, the European Union could also have more impact at the national level, by using the relationships that international civil society establishes with local civil society.
References:
Transparency International. "Guidelines for Election Monitoring".
Horacio Boneo. "Electoral Observation: A Critical Analysis". United States Institute of Peace. Report Summary, May 2004.
Elections in Ecuador 2007
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