Suchergebnisse

The advent of peace in Angola, in 2002, had nurtured the hope that the end of the civil war would contribute to a greater democratic pluralism and more civil liberties. The present paper argues that Jose Eduardo dos Santos' government reinforced control over all aspects related to the social, economic and political life of the country. Although the September 2008 elections were regarded as "credible and transparent" by international observers, MPLA's victory was anything but surprising. The paper outlines the government's electoral strategies during the process of voter registration in 2007, and basically shows how the governmental authority works and the state spreads its control over the organizations of civil society. Adapted from the source document.

This article focuses on the contribution of the Council of Europe (CoE) to the promotion & safeguard of democracy, human rights & the rule of law in Western & Eastern Europe. It is divided in two sections. The first one is an account of how the Council developed a pattern of open & flexible inclusion of new & fragile democracies in the "European political mainstream," without ceasing to promote the development of civil society. The cases chosen here are the relations established with the Iberian states & those of Central & Eastern Europe. Section two highlights some of the legal & institutional innovations brought along with the existence of the CoE & the European Convention of Human Rights. In its conclusion, the author outlines a set of considerations for further reflection on the role of the Council of Europe in the post-9/11 world. Adapted from the source document.

The article first offers an overview of the justice system & the Islamization process it underwent after the 1979 revolution. The article lays out the function of law in negotiating the balance between the republican & authoritarian elements of the state, between the elected & non-elected institutions which the Islamic Republic combines. It shows how law is used to tip that balance between, on the one hand, elected institutions, civil society organizations & the political opposition, & on the other, the Leader's office. Adapted from the source document.