{"id":1109,"date":"2021-12-03T15:09:27","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T20:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/extraocadsmhr\/?post_type=chapter&p=1109"},"modified":"2022-02-14T19:06:31","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T00:06:31","slug":"fresh-insights-on-how-to-create-civic-spaces-in-authoritarian-settings-small-steps-matter","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/extraocadsmhr\/chapter\/fresh-insights-on-how-to-create-civic-spaces-in-authoritarian-settings-small-steps-matter\/","title":{"raw":"2c. \"Fresh insights on how to create civic spaces in authoritarian settings: small steps matter\" (Short news article)","rendered":"2c. “Fresh insights on how to create civic spaces in authoritarian settings: small steps matter” (Short news article)"},"content":{"raw":"

Introduction to the article \"<\/span>Fresh insights on how to create civic spaces in authoritarian settings: small steps matter<\/a><\/span><\/span>\"<\/span><\/h1>\r\nUnfortunately, many think of countries led by authoritarian regimes as being complete monoliths. Dictatorial leadership oppresses its citizens who are left with little freedom.\r\n\r\nIn \"Fresh insights on how to create civic spaces in authoritarian settings: small steps matter,\" the author John Gaventa shares five findings to ensure that vibrant democratic spaces can still exist in the face of oppressive governments.\r\n\r\nIf we are creative in our thoughts and actions, we can make small pockets of democratic engagement even within countries that are the least free.\r\n\r\n
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Fresh insights on how to create civic spaces in authoritarian settings: small steps matter<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\nJohn Gaventa, The Conversation<\/em>, November 17, 2021 9:00am EST<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nAcross the world citizens are grappling with the pressing questions of how to defend and renew democracy in the midst of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>rising authoritarianism<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>globally. They\u2019re also battling with how to protect the civic spaces<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cwithin which people express views, assemble, associate and engage in dialogue with one another and with authorities\u201d<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in the face of this challenge.<\/span>\r\n\r\nEfforts are underway to mobilise governments to make commitments for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>democratic renewal<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and reform. The world also expects greater<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>transparency and accountability<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from those same governments that made pledges at COP26 in Glasgow to protect the future of the planet.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFor the last five years, the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Action for Empowerment and Accountability Research Programme<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has been exploring the question of what forms of action strengthen citizen empowerment and democratic accountability in increasingly hostile environments. The project is a collaborative international research programme based at the Institute of Development Studies in the UK.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe project drew on research from 22 countries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Our research<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>focused largely on Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria and Pakistan. All have legacies of conflict, military rule and authoritarianism.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWorking with partners in each country, we used multiple qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand how relatively marginalised groups perceived authorities and mobilised to express their claims. This included making use of innovative<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018governance diaries\u2019<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to record when and how these groups interacted with authorities and on which issues.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith over 200 publications, the research programme provides a unique citizen-eye view on pressing governance issues. Five key findings are particularly important for policymakers and those working towards protecting democratic space and improving accountability.<\/span>\r\n
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The findings<\/h2>\r\nFirst, closing civic space is a critical issue, threatening basic democratic rights. Our work on\u00a0<\/span>Navigating civic space<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>shows that the trend towards closing civic space has accelerated under COVID-19.\r\n\r\nCommitments to open governance are important. But they don\u2019t go very far if citizens don\u2019t have the basic freedoms to speak truth to power without fear of reprisal. This means also actively protecting democratic space. That includes joining forces with those defending the rights of those speaking out against corruption and abuses of power.\r\n\r\nSecond, even in increasingly hostile and authoritarian settings, a rich repertoire of citizen actions are taking place. But, not through the normal, established channels which many have come to expect. Sometimes these claims are expressed in cultural forms rather than engaging directly to authorities. One example is the use of\u00a0<\/span>political rap lyrics <\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Mozambique.\r\n\r\nOther times, they are made through informal channels, through networks or intermediaries, as our work using\u00a0<\/span>\u2018governance diaries\u2019<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>with marginalised groups found. And, sometimes protests may arise from a sense of collective moral outrage of citizens who, no matter how vulnerable, have just had enough.\r\n\r\nWe found this for example in struggles for\u00a0<\/span>security and against violence<\/a><\/span>, or\u00a0<\/span>against sexual harassment<\/a><\/span>, or for access to\u00a0<\/span>energy<\/span><\/a>.\r\n\r\nDonors and governments seeking to support movements for democratic reform need to start with looking for where these sources of civic energy are actually emerging. This, instead of the more traditional channels where they are often thought they ought to be.\r\n\r\nThird, women are often leading the way. Our work found women were often in the front lines of protecting civic space and demanding reforms. This is despite patriarchal social norms, threats of violence, or biases of authorities and political parties who do not recognise women as legitimate claim makers.\r\n\r\nWe saw, for instance, the power of women\u2019s leadership in the\u00a0<\/span>Bring Back our Girls Movement<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>against the abduction of girls in Nigeria, or in widespread mobilising against\u00a0<\/span>sexual harassment<\/span><\/a>. We also saw this in struggles for\u00a0<\/span>women\u2019s rights in Pakistan<\/a><\/span>.\r\n\r\nCommitments to action for protecting or expanding democratic space must include commitments to support women as leaders and champions of reform.\r\n\r\nFourth, small steps matter. In fragile, closed and authoritarian settings, donors and other actors need to re-calibrate their definitions and measures of success. Measuring success through examples of full-blown democratic accountability or well-established democratic institutions is perhaps an unrealistic goal when faced with limited civic space, weak institutional channels for engagement and repressive leadership.\r\n\r\nThe focus instead should be on more intermediary outcomes, which can serve as building blocks for longer term democratic renewal. In our work, these included:<\/span>\r\n