Over the last quarter of the 20th century the democratisation of political life has made clear progress throughout the world. Mainly in the 1990s, Southeast Asian countries have seen a wave of democratisation.
At present this process of stabilisation and the further development of the democracies in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, is on the verge of subsiding. Since the bloodless coup by the Thai military in autumn 2006, the future of the country’s democratic functioning is uncertain. At the same time, barriers against a successful externally promoted democratisation process in central Asia are growing, leading to failed development and further latent conflicts.
Promoting guarantors of dynamic democracies
Alongside emerging and successful democracies such as East-Timor and India, autocratic and repressive regimes continue to exist. In numerous Asian countries
- the commitment of civil society
- the protection of civil freedom
- the role of free media
are becoming increasingly significant as guarantors of efficient and dynamic democracy. At the same time they require systematic promotion and support in fragile democracies. The support of national civil society structures even in traditional social spheres allows long-term reconciliation between tradition and modernity. The conservation of a discrete cultural identity can countervail social insecurities and can prevent radicalisation by traditional forces.
Regional co-operation
The foundation aims to support and provide new incentives to this process of democratisation with local partners and organisations in Thailand, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. In a series of topical workshops on Democracy and Gender in Traditional Societies in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Lahore and Kabul offices invite scholars, experts and NGO representatives from Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Europe to discuss the cultural, social, economic and political frameworks for gender democratic conditions. These co-operations build the foundation for participation in political processes and the acceptability and promotion of pluralism and the rule of law.
Human rights
The recognition of human rights is of particular relevance. The foundation supports the promotion of democracy, political and social participation, and the fight against corruption. This it carries out together with human rights and women organisations, academic institutions, committed journalists and representatives from the jurisdiction. The office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Lahore, Pakistan, works with the Human Rights Commission towards the improvement of the human rights status and the political rights of citizens in the various provinces of Pakistan.
Education of local politicians in Pakistan
Through the women’s organisation Aurat Foundation, the Heinrich Böll Foundation facilitated the education of committed women politicians in Pakistan. Since the introduction of women quotas in 2000 / 2001, 36,000 women have been elected into local parliaments. These local politicians have been professionally qualified through specifically developed educational programmes by the Aurat Foundation.