Democracy and Peacebuilding

 

The advancement of democracy throughout the world is a major challenge. Donors, national governmental organisations, national and local governments and NGOs of many types work through innumerable programmes. The underlying principle is that stable democracies do not wage war, at least not with one another, and that championing democracy serves peace.

 

For several decades IKV Pax Christi has been acquiring a great deal of experience with democratisation projects and processes in many conflict areas. The major problems that under discussion in recent years in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina must not result in reduced enthusiasm for democracy, but rather should lead to an increase in knowledge about democratisation processes and to a better thought out strategy.

 

IKV Pax Christi and its partners are willing and able to help do this. Another avenue of approach is the growing awareness that democratisation is also a necessary element in the long-term strategy for preventing terrorism.