Few would dispute the importance of donating funds and expertise to
conflict-ridden societiesâ€"but such aid, however well meant, often fails to
have the intended effect. This study critically evaluates international
democratization assistance in postconflict societies to discern what has worked,
what has not, and how aid programs can be designed to have a more positive
impact.
The authors offer a unique recipient perspective as they explore three
dimensions of democracy promotion elections, free media, and human rights.
Drawing on the experiences of Afghanistan, Cambodia, El Salvador, Ethiopia,
Guatemala, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, they suggest concrete
ways in which the international community can better foster democratization in
the