Thinking Democratically: A Comprehensive Approach to Countering and Preventing Shrinking Space
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2. Respond with a multi-level whole-of-society approach<br />
• Civil society needs reliable, core long-term support, particularly in engaging in grassroots outreach<br />
<strong>and</strong> involving citizens in their activities, especially when faced with targeted smear campaigns.<br />
• Political parties can play a key role in defending democratic space, particularly when in opposition<br />
or outside parliament. Effective party regulation related <strong>to</strong> transparency, campaigning, <strong>and</strong> financing,<br />
as well as support <strong>to</strong> internal party democracy <strong>and</strong> smaller non-parliamentary political parties are of<br />
particular relevance in contexts of shrinking space.<br />
• Donors need <strong>to</strong> have clear positions on working with business in the context of closing space as it is<br />
important <strong>to</strong> avoid working with businesses that may benefit from weaker transparency or widespread<br />
impunity.<br />
• Independent media needs <strong>to</strong> be recognised as playing a vital role in responding <strong>to</strong> all three tactics, as<br />
well as in engaging with citizens. Evidence shows that it is necessary <strong>to</strong> explain the value of different<br />
interest groups <strong>to</strong> the general public in a much more systematic manner.<br />
• The case studies show that women <strong>and</strong> already disadvantaged groups, particularly indigenous<br />
peoples, suffer disproportionately from measures <strong>to</strong> close democratic space. People with<br />
vulnerabilities resulting from intersectionalities are even more at risk. This should be considered in<br />
both policies <strong>and</strong> programming priorities.<br />
• Private companies can play a detrimental role in the closing of democratic space <strong>and</strong> should be<br />
considered an essential part of the solution, through dialogue <strong>and</strong> strategic use of EU leverage in trade<br />
<strong>and</strong> business.<br />
IDEAS FOR ACTION<br />
- Identify entry points (or priority sec<strong>to</strong>rs) for donors in supporting an open political system through a<br />
‘political economic analysis’ framework. This will strengthen EU strategic interests through more<br />
effective EU action abroad <strong>and</strong> in Europe.<br />
- All key ac<strong>to</strong>rs should be consulted <strong>and</strong> engaged with when addressing or analysing the closing (or<br />
opening) of democratic space in a particular country. This includes those ac<strong>to</strong>rs who are not well<br />
represented at a national level or have no presence in the capital but play an important role at the<br />
local level or in specific communities, like local authorities, local civil society, <strong>and</strong> people vulnerable<br />
due <strong>to</strong> intersectionalities. Involve diaspora civil society from repressive contexts in Europe <strong>to</strong>o.<br />
- Create a dedicated team <strong>to</strong> support donors in organising multistakeholder consultations <strong>to</strong> overcome<br />
the practical difficulties <strong>and</strong> time-consuming nature thereof. The team should also advise EUDs on how<br />
<strong>to</strong> exploit existing flexible funding modalities on a small local scale.<br />
- Develop guidelines on EUD engagement with the full spectrum of political parties, in order <strong>to</strong> support<br />
EUDs in their engagement with key political ac<strong>to</strong>rs. The dedicated facility may also support the creation<br />
of EUD networks with political representatives.<br />
- Mainstream joint political party <strong>and</strong> civil society consultations on democratic space, in order <strong>to</strong><br />
support cooperation between progressive forces in both groups of ac<strong>to</strong>rs. Hold targeted meetings with<br />
all ac<strong>to</strong>rs addressed in the recommendations in EU Election Observation.<br />
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