WEBVTT - This file has cues. 1 00:00:01.720 --> 00:00:02.480 2 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:07.760 Suppose you live in a democratic country. 3 00:00:07.760 --> 00:00:10.280 Once in four or five years you elect a representative 4 00:00:10.280 --> 00:00:12.600 to the parliament. 5 00:00:12.600 --> 00:00:15.120 The media gives you some information about 6 00:00:15.120 --> 00:00:17.360 what the parliament and government do 7 00:00:17.360 --> 00:00:21.680 in order for you to decide if you want to vote for that party 8 00:00:21.680 --> 00:00:24.120 or representative in the next election 9 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.280 or rather choose a different party. 10 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:28.600 Sometimes you discuss 11 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:31.840 politics with friends. family. and colleagues; 12 00:00:31.840 --> 00:00:36.440 you can speak freely and say what you think 13 00:00:36.440 --> 00:00:39.400 and that’s great. 14 00:00:39.400 --> 00:00:42.120 Yet there is much more to democracy 15 00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:44.240 than elections to the national 16 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:45.680 or provincial parliament. 17 00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:49.400 18 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:51.840 In some countries there are established traditions 19 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.280 of local democratic institutions 20 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:59.360 and citizens’ participation in local self-rule. 21 00:00:59.360 --> 00:01:02.240 In other countries. these local institutions are 22 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:04.520 weak. 23 00:01:04.520 --> 00:01:06.400 non-existent. 24 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:08.680 or are organized in ways that prevent the representation 25 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:11.920 and participation of the citizens. 26 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:14.160 In Syria. for example. there are elected city and 27 00:01:14.160 --> 00:01:15.160 village councils. 28 00:01:15.160 --> 00:01:18.000 But they are subordinate in all important questions 29 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:19.360 to the provincial governor 30 00:01:19.360 --> 00:01:21.520 or the minister for local government. 31 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:24.000 both of whom are appointed by the president. 32 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:26.480 As a result. these councils can make 33 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.280 almost no independent decisions. 34 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:30.280 35 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.120 Local bodies. such as city or village councils. 36 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:34.440 have two functions: 37 00:01:34.440 --> 00:01:38.160 »top-down« and »bottom-up«. 38 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:39.480 The top-down function 39 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:42.520 is quite simple: 40 00:01:42.520 --> 00:02:08.240 41 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.320 The »bottom-up« function. on the other hand. 42 00:02:10.320 --> 00:02:12.520 is at the heart of the democratic system. that is. 43 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:16.000 at the heart of local democracy. 44 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.880 Sometimes the inhabitants 45 00:02:18.880 --> 00:02:20.800 simply know best 46 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:26.520 what is good for their town or village. 47 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:31.720 The citizens of each town can decide for themselves. 48 00:02:31.720 --> 00:02:33.520 Through local institutions. 49 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:35.640 their knowledge can be passed up to 50 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:39.880 provincial and national institutions. 51 00:02:39.880 --> 00:02:41.720 Officially. structures and institutions 52 00:02:41.720 --> 00:02:43.320 of local government 53 00:02:43.320 --> 00:02:45.800 exist almost everywhere. 54 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.800 But in different places 55 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:50.600 they have very different roles and powers. 56 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:53.440 Especially where there is a long tradition 57 00:02:53.440 --> 00:02:56.240 of authoritarian rule it is important 58 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.720 to develop local democratic institutions 59 00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:00.720 and procedures and thus send democratic impulses 60 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:04.520 to the top. 61 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.600 Different countries. regions. and societies 62 00:03:06.600 --> 00:03:08.440 will find different ways to do so. 63 00:03:08.440 --> 00:03:10.880 But there are some vital and general principles 64 00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:12.520 that should be considered everywhere: 65 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:18.800 representation. participation. and efficiency. 66 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:20.640 Representation of citizens can be 67 00:03:20.640 --> 00:03:22.720 achieved through regular elections 68 00:03:22.720 --> 00:03:25.800 and a fair electoral system. 69 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:27.800 Participation is assured through 70 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.880 freedom of association and expression. 71 00:03:29.880 --> 00:03:32.440 public access to information. 72 00:03:32.440 --> 00:03:35.240 and specific consultation mechanisms. 73 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:38.800 Finally. clear and secure budgets and planning. 74 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.240 regular training of officials. 75 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:44.440 clear legal definitions of roles and powers. 76 00:03:44.440 --> 00:03:46.800 and a reliable coordination 77 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:48.720 between local authorities and 78 00:03:48.720 --> 00:03:51.240 the national or provincial government 79 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:56.800 can help to achieve efficiency. 80 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:58.360 However. even local-government institutions 81 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:00.160 firmly bound to the principles of 82 00:04:00.160 --> 00:04:02.240 representation. participation. and efficiency 83 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.800 will not be able to meet the plurality of citizen’s needs. 84 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.240 wishes. and ideas for a better society. 85 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.160 Thus they will have difficulties 86 00:04:11.160 --> 00:04:13.600 to do their work well without 87 00:04:13.600 --> 00:04:20.920 citizens’ own initiatives and self-organization. 88 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:23.600 Self-organization can take many forms 89 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:27.200 and can have many specific objectives. 90 00:04:27.200 --> 00:04:29.400 Associations. for example. 91 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:31.000 can help to pursue and protect 92 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:32.480 many different interests 93 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:34.160 and objectives of citizens. 94 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:37.320 To this day. authoritarian regimes throughout the world 95 00:04:37.320 --> 00:04:40.480 remain wary when people join together in associations 96 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.920 since the fundamental idea is 97 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:49.440 to create a »space separate from the state«. 98 00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:52.200 Citizens join together in an association 99 00:04:52.200 --> 00:04:54.800 in order to arrange their own affairs independently 100 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.400 and without government interference. 101 00:04:57.400 --> 00:04:59.200 In order for this to work. 102 00:04:59.200 --> 00:05:01.320 security authorities must not have a say 103 00:05:01.320 --> 00:05:03.440 in the authorization or monitoring of associations. 104 00:05:03.440 --> 00:05:05.480 Such tasks should be assumed by the judiciary. 105 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:10.160 not the executive powers. 106 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:12.000 However. not only new forms 107 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.000 of organizations are needed. 108 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.520 It is also necessary to pay attention 109 00:05:16.520 --> 00:05:19.640 to the internal structures within existing organizations. 110 00:05:19.640 --> 00:05:21.200 be it schools. universities. 111 00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:23.880 political parties. or trade unions. 112 00:05:23.880 --> 00:05:25.200 In schools. for example. 113 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:28.200 the creation of elected pupils’ and parents’ councils 114 00:05:28.200 --> 00:05:31.320 is a good way to give both parents and pupils a voice 115 00:05:31.320 --> 00:05:33.320 in what happens in their school. 116 00:05:33.320 --> 00:05:35.760 Citizens must learn - ideally from a young age - 117 00:05:35.760 --> 00:05:38.200 how to participate constructively 118 00:05:38.200 --> 00:05:40.760 in shaping their own society. 119 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:42.640 The school as an institution 120 00:05:42.640 --> 00:05:46.800 plays a central role that extends far 121 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.320 beyond imparting knowledge. 122 00:05:50.320 --> 00:05:54.400 The school can foreground obedience and discipline 123 00:05:54.400 --> 00:05:56.240 and educate children and young people 124 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:57.720 to become »subjects«. 125 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:02.320 Yet the school also has the potential 126 00:06:02.320 --> 00:06:05.760 to create »responsible citizens«. 127 00:06:05.760 --> 00:06:09.000 Educating responsible citizens is only possible 128 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.400 if. as part of their school routine. 129 00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:15.240 children and young people gain concrete experience 130 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:16.640 in organizing. 131 00:06:16.640 --> 00:06:18.320 formulating their own interests. 132 00:06:18.320 --> 00:06:20.720 electing representatives. and differentiating 133 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.200 between general and particular interests 134 00:06:22.200 --> 00:06:23.520 as well as weighing these interests 135 00:06:23.520 --> 00:06:25.520 against each other. 136 00:06:25.520 --> 00:06:30.360 137 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:31.920 Political parties are a good example 138 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.360 of the fact that existing institutions 139 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.480 must change in order to facilitate democracy. 140 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:40.200 In many states in the Middle East. 141 00:06:40.200 --> 00:06:42.160 parties remain centrally 142 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.760 and hierarchically organized. even today. 143 00:06:44.760 --> 00:06:46.760 They hold party congresses 144 00:06:46.760 --> 00:06:49.000 where a central committee 145 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.480 and a chairman are elected. 146 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:54.400 These leaders are responsible 147 00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:57.600 for filling all subordinate positions within the party 148 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.800 until the next election. 149 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:03.200 In this way all party functionaries 150 00:07:03.200 --> 00:07:06.440 are ultimately only responsible to the leadership. 151 00:07:06.440 --> 00:07:09.800 They have no legitimacy from the party base 152 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:13.160 and thus are in no way bound to that base. 153 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:15.640 There are alternatives to this: 154 00:07:15.640 --> 00:07:18.760 For example. local branches of the party 155 00:07:18.760 --> 00:07:21.800 can have the right to elect 156 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.640 local party functionaries themselves 157 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:27.440 and they can be given a say 158 00:07:27.440 --> 00:07:29.600 in nominating candidates for parliament. 159 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:32.160 Politicians who are elected by the base 160 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:34.320 are responsible to it 161 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:36.320 and take into account its interests and ideas. 162 00:07:36.320 --> 00:07:38.800 Additionally. local branches can be given 163 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.760 their own budgets and the right to organize 164 00:07:41.760 --> 00:07:45.360 independent local events. 165 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.600 166 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:52.800 Democratization begins at the local level. 167 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:54.520 If it doesn't work there. 168 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:57.720 it doesn't work anywhere. 169 00:07:57.720 --> 00:07:59.640 Democracy must be learned 170 00:07:59.640 --> 00:08:03.760 and actively lived. 171 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:05.480 Today. activists in Syria 172 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.920 are faced with the task 173 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.760 of developing new. participatory structures 174 00:08:09.760 --> 00:08:11.640 and assuming responsibility 175 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:13.480 in their direct surroundings. 176 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:15.400 in youth centers. sports clubs. 177 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:17.400 schools. and universities. 178 00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:19.200 At the same time. they must give thought 179 00:08:19.200 --> 00:08:20.880 to how their society as a whole 180 00:08:20.880 --> 00:08:22.320 should be structured. 181 00:08:22.320 --> 00:08:24.200 This task must not be left to politicians 182 00:08:24.200 --> 00:08:26.720 who only know authoritarian. centralized structures 183 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:28.760 and whose idea of a »better society« 184 00:08:28.760 --> 00:08:30.520 can be reduced to the fact 185 00:08:30.520 --> 00:08:33.200 that their party. ethnicity. or religious group 186 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.400 now calls the shots. 187 00:08:34.400 --> 00:08:54.320 188 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.840 The democratization of Syria 189 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:01.440 can only succeed from below.