Thinking Democratically: A Comprehensive Approach to Countering and Preventing Shrinking Space
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This tension resulting from the lack of conceptual clarity on closing space lies at the heart of the<br />
mixed <strong>and</strong> limited results from the international community’s efforts <strong>to</strong> counter closing civic space.<br />
Brechenmacher <strong>and</strong> Carothers have argued that the international community is somewhat stuck in<br />
its response <strong>to</strong> restricted civic space, <strong>and</strong> call for a strategic framework for responding <strong>to</strong> the<br />
challenge of closing democratic space – including civic space <strong>and</strong> other challenges – so as <strong>to</strong> ensure<br />
unity <strong>and</strong> focus, <strong>and</strong> integrate the strategic response <strong>to</strong> closing democratic space within the wider<br />
foreign policy agenda. 16 Likewise, the European Centre for Development Policy Management has<br />
called on donors <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> the wider challenge of closing democratic space rather than limit its<br />
focus <strong>to</strong> civil society. 17<br />
This paper is based on research in countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe <strong>and</strong> sub-Saharan Africa,<br />
conducted by local experts. 18 Each of these case studies detail the state of democracy <strong>and</strong> human<br />
rights in the country, analysing the drivers <strong>and</strong> strategies for closing democratic space, with special<br />
attention <strong>to</strong> the role of political parties, donors <strong>and</strong> civil society. Democratic space is defined here<br />
as a “produced social space in which there is political contestation <strong>and</strong> inclusiveness reflected in the<br />
extent <strong>to</strong> which citizens have the opportunity <strong>to</strong> (a) formulate their preferences, (b) articulate their<br />
preferences <strong>and</strong> (c) have their preferences weighed equally in the conduct of government”. 19 The<br />
closing of democratic space then takes the form of state <strong>and</strong> non-state ac<strong>to</strong>rs limiting space <strong>and</strong><br />
opportunities for political contestation <strong>and</strong> participation. This includes special attention <strong>to</strong> civic<br />
space, alongside the rule of law, separation of powers, checks <strong>and</strong> balances <strong>and</strong> fair <strong>and</strong> inclusive<br />
political participation <strong>and</strong> contestation.<br />
This paper departs from two key observations: Firstly, it is clear that there is a need <strong>to</strong> clarify the<br />
notion of “shrinking space” in relation <strong>to</strong> the trend of au<strong>to</strong>cratisation. Secondly, despite the wealth<br />
of analysis of civic space, responses have so far failed <strong>to</strong> succinctly operationalise analysis in<strong>to</strong> action.<br />
The paper responds <strong>to</strong> these observations by firstly providing further evidence on the strategies <strong>and</strong><br />
features of reduced democratic space, including coordinated action <strong>to</strong> clamp down on civic space<br />
through 7 case studies. The paper breaks down the strategies in<strong>to</strong> three categories: a) closing civic<br />
space, b) creating an uneven playing field <strong>and</strong> c) undermining the separation of powers <strong>and</strong> the rule<br />
of law. It follows this by looking at several key ac<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>and</strong> the role that they play in the phenomenon<br />
of shrinking space. It ends by extrapolating evidence from prior analysis <strong>and</strong> the commissioned case<br />
studies in order <strong>to</strong> provide recommendations for action.<br />
16<br />
Ibid.<br />
17<br />
Bossuyt, J. & Ronceray, M. (2020): Claiming back civic space: <strong>to</strong>wards approaches fit for the 2020s? European Centre for<br />
Development Policy Management. Available here.<br />
18<br />
Country case studies were conducted in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kenya <strong>and</strong> Zimbabwe.<br />
19<br />
Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Institute for Multiparty Democracy (2017): research methodology on closing democratic space.<br />
10