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Opinion & analysis

Lessons from Afghanistan

Published on 20-08-2021
Reading time 2 mins
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By Thijs Berman, Executive Director of NIMD. Thijs was Head of the European Union’s Election Observer Mission to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2014. He explores what went wrong in Afghanistan, and what advocates of democracy can learn for the future. In twenty years, the drama of the Afghan people has seen three acts. The first …

Soldiers alone will not help the Sahel

Published on 24-02-2021
Reading time 4 mins
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By Mirjam Tjassing, Sahel Regional Director at NIMD. This is an English translation of an article that originally appeared in NRC (in Dutch). Read the original here. The year 2020 was the deadliest since the Sahel crisis began nine years ago. Civilians faced violence from both security forces and jihadist groups, and the number of …

NIMD statement on the elections in Uganda and the way forward

Published on 01-02-2021
Reading time 1 mins
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The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy Uganda (NIMD Uganda), a key partner to Ugandan political parties and host of the secretariat of the Interparty Organization for Dialogue (IPOD), notes with deep concern the high level of tension and anxiety in Uganda following the presidential elections of 14 January 2021. Even if election day itself and …

The US transfer of power: How to mend divides through inclusive democracy  

Published on 21-01-2021
Reading time 3 mins
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Yesterday, the US welcomed a new President and Vice President into power. NIMD’s Senior Advisor Strategic Relations, Heleen Schrooyen, and Communications Officer, Emanuela Campbell, explore how the new administration can start to mend divides.  On 6 January 2021, the world watched as violent swathes of protesters stormed the US Capitol. As thousands of people rammed …

#UN75: Trust me, I’m a politician.

Published on 20-10-2020
Reading time 4 mins
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In a world of dramatic changes and complex problems, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis, we need collective action more than ever before. That’s why, to celebrate its 75th anniversary, the UN has set up a global dialogue. At a pivotal moment in the UN’s history, they are asking people to make their …

Mali crisis: resisting the temptation of worn-out political recipes

Published on 24-07-2020
Reading time 4 mins
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This is an English translation of an article by NIMD Sahel Director Mirjam Tjassing, and Founder of WATHI Yabi Gilles, originally published in French in Jeune Afrique. If the ECOWAS heads of state visiting Mali’s bedside on Thursday (23 July) do not go beyond recommending the usual political recipes, the chances of ending the succession …

Solving the Corona crisis: Respect for democracy is the key

Published on 18-05-2020
Reading time 4 mins
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Respect for every individual, for human rights and for democracy is not something that can be set aside in the global fight against COVID-19. It is the key to the solution. That’s why NIMD’s Executive Director, Thijs Berman, has joined forces with NIMD Colombia, Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Akina Mama wa Afrika and the Gorée Institute …

A democratic revival

Published on 29-01-2020
Reading time 4 mins
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As part of our Democracy Special, developed in cooperation with Dutch development magazine Vice Versa, NIMD Director Thijs Berman looks into the causes and consequences of recent protests around the world and explores the power of open democracy as a sustainable alternative to populism. Demonstrations have made a comeback. Political leaders around the globe have …

Is modern politics really that modern?

Published on 25-06-2019
Reading time 3 mins
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Thijs Berman, Executive Director of NIMD. Over the last century, we have seen several waves of democratization. We had the ends of the two World Wars and the colonial era. We also saw the fall of southern European dictators Franco and Salazar, as well as the end of the Greek military junta. Democracy seemed to …

What makes a country programme effective?

Published on 25-02-2019
Reading time 3 mins
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Self-reflection is essential for any project’s success. Without it, you risk working yourself into a dead end on projects that can’t meet their goals. Whether you’re an individual planning your working day or the CEO the world’s largest corporation, self-reflection is crucial if you are to stay focused on your long term goals. For NIMD, …