Three Lessons About International Assistance
Three Lessons About International Assistance

Summary/Abstract: Some lessons have been learned - or should have been - by the providers of assistance for democratization in the post-communist world. First, while the international community was instrumental in ensuring the elections are free and fair, party building was a disappointing affair. In spite of the large amounts of resources invested, for example, in the right-wing coalitions in Romania and Bulgaria, these organizations remained blatantly unprofessional and suffered major electoral setbacks. Second, an NGO sector has been built, but its sustainability and accomplishments are still in question. Third, media assistance helped many independent publications stay alive and improved the skills of journalists, but left unadressed the issues of motivation and political control, especially in that part where stakes are highest: television stations. Finally, and encompassing all of the above, the donors should understand that the process is as important as the end points in the transition process - or even more. How you do it - responding to real needs in societies, engaging local partners, following strict democratic procedures - should take precedence over achieving milestones and predefined endpoints.

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