Thinking Democratically: A Comprehensive Approach to Countering and Preventing Shrinking Space
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3.<br />
Main Ac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
The picture that emerges from the case studies show that democratic space is not simply closed by<br />
those in power <strong>and</strong> defended by opposition <strong>and</strong> civil society. In reality, a variety of ac<strong>to</strong>rs play<br />
multiple roles in the defending <strong>and</strong> attacking of democratic space. Some unexpected ac<strong>to</strong>rs were<br />
criminal groups <strong>and</strong> business elites, for instance, who hold considerable power over democratic space<br />
– particularly when they have close ties with political elites. In addition, the case studies shed light<br />
on the multiple <strong>and</strong> ambiguous roles of political parties. In certain circumstances, opposition parties<br />
would defend democratic space, whereas in other circumstances even opposition parties closed space<br />
for contestation. In all cases, civil society – in <strong>and</strong> of themselves a heterogenous group – are on the<br />
frontline of the battle for democratic space, with varying degrees of success. This points <strong>to</strong> the need<br />
for a comprehensive underst<strong>and</strong>ing of democratic space, where coalitions for change are mobilised<br />
on a case-by-case basis.<br />
3.1 Political parties’ contested role<br />
Political parties play a dual role in the closing of democratic space. On the one h<strong>and</strong>, political parties<br />
can be the ones actively or passively shrinking democratic space. In a number of the cases under<br />
examination, both ruling <strong>and</strong> opposition parties were either pro-actively <strong>and</strong> directly changing the<br />
rules of the game for their own benefit, or passively <strong>and</strong> indirectly safeguarding a closing, corrupted<br />
system. On the other h<strong>and</strong>, opposition parties are at times also the ones widening the space for<br />
contestation <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing up for civic freedoms. Looking in<strong>to</strong> the incentives for such behaviour sheds<br />
light on some of the underlying dynamics <strong>to</strong> political parties’ dual role in the closing space for<br />
contestation.<br />
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