International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): ‘Electoral Justice in Europe During a Pandemic’ - 24 June 2021, 9.00-10.15 (EDT) / 15.00-16.15 (CEST)

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To many, electoral justice is the cornerstone of democracy that protects the rights of citizens. Electoral justice is responsible for resolving all election disputes, claims and complaints. Is electoral justice possible, especially when our elections are threatened by disinformation and foreign influence, as well as the pandemic?

Please join IFES and experts from the region to discuss “Electoral Justice in Europe During a Pandemic” to identify answers to these questions and to gain insight on the true meaning of electoral justice.

The event will be held live via Zoom and feature simultaneous interpretation from English into Albanian, Armenian, Georgian, Macedonian, Russian, South Slavic language and Ukrainian.

The event will be moderated by IFES Regional Europe Office Director and Senior Political Finance Adviser Magnus Öhman and feature the following panelists:

•  Chad Vickery, Vice President for Global Strategy and Technical Leadership, IFES

• Emilija Orestijević, Project Manager, Center for Free Elections and Democracy, Serbia

• Rafa Rubio, Professor at Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

• Irena Hadžiabdić, Member of the Central Election Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina

House of European History: ‘How is COVID-19 changing Europe as we know it? Public Lecture by Ivan Krastev’ - 22 June 2021, 18.30-19.30 (CEST)

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The COVID-19 crisis is a human tragedy. It is also an unprecedented social experiment - potentially the largest social experiment we’ll ever witness in our ;And we’re watching it unfold in real time.

In March 2020, the free movement of the EU was temporarily suspended and citizens took shelter beyond the closed borders of their nation state. Democracy was put on hold with emergency legislation rapidly introduced in most European countries. The future of capitalism was quietly in question.

While the voice of the EU was notably quiet in the early stages of the crisis, the pandemic has become more critical for the future of the Union than anything else in its history to date. COVID-19 has brought forward Europe’s “Hamiltonian moment” and has accelerated the process of European integration. However, at the same time, it has forced Europeans to re-think some of the fundamental assumptions on which the European project is built.

How is COVID-19 changing Europe and how is it changing Europe’s role in the world? These are the questions this lecture will address and reflect on.

Trinity Centre for Constitutional Governance (TriCON): ‘COVID, Crisis and the Constitution’ - 16 June 2021, 13.00-14.00 (IST)

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Covid19 has had a profound effect on our lives, our health and our relationships. But what impact has it had on the constitutional framework and the norms which underpin that framework? Drawing on comparative examples from the UK, Ireland, Europe and far beyond, in conversation with leading experts in the field, this seminar asks: How are governments responding to Covid19 in a changing field? And how are constitutions framing and shaping those responses? More fundamentally, has the Covid crisis uncovered a deeper constitutional malaise?

This seminar is co-hosted by the British-Irish Chapter of ICON-S (the International Society of Public Law) and TriCON and is generously supported by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Constitutional Governance in Europe at Trinity College Dublin. It is also part of Constitutional Governance in Europe series, supported by the ERASMUS programme.

Speakers:

• Professor Fiona de Londras

• Professor Oran Doyle

• Dr Joelle Grogan

• Professor Jeff King

in conversation with Professor Aileen Kavanagh.

International IDEA: ‘What’s happening to democracy in Latin America?’ - 16 June 2021, 16.00-17.30 (CEST)

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Accusations of creeping authoritarianism are levelled against charismatic leaders in Brazil, El Salvador and Mexico. Colombia is rocked by its worst street protests in years. Extraordinary political polarization and age-old social and ethnic divides overshadow Peru’s presidential election. Independent candidates win support in Chile’s constitutional assembly in a blow to traditional political parties. All this happens while the region reels from one of the world’s worst outbreaks of Covid-19 and the most severe economic downturn in a century.

• Why does a region that many thought had made great strides towards robust democratic governance and prosperity suddenly appear mired in political uncertainty?

• What are the root causes and immediate triggers of the current spike in political tension?

• What will be the lasting political impact of the pandemic?

• What lessons do political events in Latin America hold about global challenges to democracy?

Speakers:

Sergio Bitar, Former Minister & Senator, Chile, Member of International IDEA’s Board of Advisers

Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA

Laura Chinchilla, Former President of Costa Rica, Vice Chair International IDEA Board of Advisers

Dr Denise Dresser, Professor of political science, the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México

María Emma Mejía Vélez, Former Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dr Daniel Zovatto (Moderator), Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, International IDEA

Chatham House: ‘Latin America’s relations with China: Vaccine diplomacy and beyond’ - 17 June 2021, 12.00-13.00 (BST)

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China’s use of soft power to leverage its influence in Latin America has increased with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) approval of Sinopharm – the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine. At the same time, while Chinese investment in Latin America and the Caribbean fell in 2020, fiscal shortfalls in the region as a result of stimulus packages are leaving many governments struggling to cover stretched budgets.

At this event, panellists discuss the political and economic implications of China’s growing interests in Latin America.

• Which specific countries, and leaders, are proving the most receptive to bilateral relations with China?

• What is the role of vaccine diplomacy in bolstering Chinese presence in the region?

• How will Chinese commerce with, and investment in, the region change post COVID-19?

• What are the consequences of a decline in US involvement in the region for China’s foreign policy vision?

European University Institute, University of Portsmouth & King’s College London - Conference: ‘The Rule of Law in the EU: Consensus and Discontent’ - 10-11 June 2021

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This conference explores the meaning, function and transformation of the Rule of Law within the European Union in the light of contemporary national and transnational challenges. It will host 30 academics from 14 different European countries who will explore the meaning, function and transformation of the Rule of Law within the European Union in the light of contemporary national and transnational challenges.

The conference’s keynote speakers include:

Professor Lucia Serena Rossi, Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU

Michal Bobek, Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the EU

Professor Kim Lane Scheppele, Princeton University

German Marshall Fund: ‘Fostering Good Governance to Stem Authoritarian Meddling in the Western Balkans’ - 8 June 2021, 3.00-4.30 (CEST)

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The countries of the Western Balkans are increasingly subject to foreign authoritarian influence. Using new, sophisticated tools, authoritarian powers from outside the region have moved from a fringe and informal involvement to a sophisticated systemic presence that clashes with the EU-driven reform process and a European normative and institutional architecture. This trend was accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, which added to the distance between the EU and the Western Balkans.

The often ad hoc and incoherent policymaking process in the Western Balkans countries suits authoritarian powers, which capitalize on unpredictable policy environments. The lack of coordination between various levels of government reduces the resilience of the countries in the region to the complex, multisectoral engagement of external authoritarian players. Lack of meaningful civil society involvement in policymaking also prevents regional governments from assessing the long-term strategic effects of policies and regulations.

Could sound regulatory environment and good governance prevent further authoritarian influence in the region? What policy tools and governance mechanism could enhance the resilience of Western Balkans countries to authoritarian meddling? What role can civil society and civic innovation play in fostering good governance and in containing the influence of authoritarian powers?

The German Marshall Fund of the United States is pleased to invite you to the presentation and discussion of a new policy paper that examines the above key questions. This event is part of the ReThink.CEE Fellowship, which was established by the German Marshall Fund of the United States in 2018. As Central and Eastern Europe faces mounting challenges to its democracy, security, and prosperity, the ReThink.CEE Fellowship supports next-generation thinkers and activists to conduct original policy research, to offer fresh thinking and perspectives, and to shape effective responses.

Human Rights Institute (University of Connecticut): ‘Colombian Democracy at a Crossroads’ - 8 June 2021, 15.00-16.30 (EDT)

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Massive and popular protests have taken the streets of Colombia daily, creatively and belligerently for over a month now. The demands for change and the demands to turn around the history of inequality, exclusion, corruption, and impunity have received such a level of repression and state violence at the hands of the police that “they are massacring us” and “SOSColombia” have become the phrases that reflect this historical moment. National and international human rights organizations, as well as international governments, reiterate their concern and call on the government to suspend the repression, protect the citizen’s right to protest, advance in peaceful negotiations, and allow international organizations to investigate the crimes and complaints. The Colombian Democracy at the Crossroads urgent webinar aims to offer a historical, political, and legal look at the current moment in Colombia. We will listen to the voices of different protagonists inside and outside of Colombia to understand the possible solutions to the crisis. Either the varied democratic expressions of citizenship lead to a new Colombia, or the government strengthens its concentration of power and continues to reject popular petitions, repress protest, and institutionalize a dictatorship with more declarations of a “state of siege.”

The 90-minute webinar will be in English and Spanish with simultaneous subtitling.

• Theme 1: What is happening on the ground? Voices from Colombia.

• Theme 2: Contextualization and Analysis: the old, the new, and the future of Colombia’s democracy.

• Theme 3: International Policy Implications.

Federal Trust for Education & Research: ‘Covid-19 and centralism in British Government’ - 16 June 2021, 12.00-13.30 (BST)

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This will be the second event in our new series of webinars on “Federal Futures?”. Our speakers will discuss how the UK’s various tiers of government coped, and co-ordinated, during the pandemic.

Speakers:

Dr Janice Morphet - Visiting Professor, The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL Author of “The Impact of COVID-19 on Devolution”

Dr Paul Anderson - Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Canterbury Christ Church University

Professor Colin Talbot - Professor of Government (Emeritus), University of Manchester

Brendan Donnelly (Chair) - Director, The Federal Trust

Asia Centre: ‘Timor-Leste: Internet Freedoms Under Threat’ - 4 June 2021, 15.00 (Bangkok time) / 17.00 (Dili time)

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Across Southeast Asia freedoms of expression have been backsliding, Timor-Leste has not escaped this regression. While the Constitution has rights guarantees, national laws however are inconsistent with the Constitution and the international standards to which it subscribes. With gaps that may lead to litigation or censorship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has proposed a number of laws—draft Criminal Defamation (2020) and Cybercrime Bill (2021)—in response to online criticism. Already hampered by poor telecommunication infrastructure and affordability, access to and the use of information by the public is set to be deterred even further. Thus, negatively affecting internet freedoms in the country.

Asia Centre is hosting a town-hall discussion on recent legal developments that may create a chilling effect on media and internet freedoms in Timor-Leste. It invites activists, journalists, lawyers and other interested parties for a dialogue where Asia Centre will present the preliminary findings of its research.

Swedish Development Forum (FUF) & International IDEA: ‘Democratic efforts on the brink: What is happening in the Middle East and North Africa’ - 31 May 2021, 12.00-13.00 (CEST)

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of many which is facing a democratic backlash in the world. According to our Global State of Democracy Report 2019, the Middle East has experienced the slowest democratic progress in the world since 1975. While the Arab Uprisings in 2010-2011 raised hopes for a turning point in the region’s democratic history, many of the movements demanding democratic transitions have since weakened. The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened the economic and social problems of the region, which could exacerbate the pre-existing democratic challenges. The presentation will cover the key democratic trends and challenges in this region that have been observed in the last five years; while also shedding some light on some of the implications that the government measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic have had on democracy and human rights in the region.

Join International IDEA's Elisenda Ballesté Buxó in this timely conversation, moderated by FUF Stockholm Södra’s event group, discussing recent developments and the state of democracy in the MENA region. At the end of the presentation, Elisenda will answer questions from the participants and open up for a wider discussion within the group.

EXCEPTIUS & Globalisation Studies Groningen (GSG): ‘Democracy in Distress - Protesting in times of Covid-19’ - 27 May 2021, 16.00-17.30 (CEST)

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Since the contagion of Covid-19 developed into a worldwide pandemic, governments around the world have introduced a plethora of exceptional measures to combat the spread of the virus. There has been a high degree of volatility associated with public responses to such measures, ranging from high degree of compliance and support to outright public protests. In some cases, protests directly targeted Covid-19 containment measures while in others, the pandemic reinforced pre-existing social movements. What are the drivers of protests in times of Covid-19? How has the pandemic exacerbated political and social divides? What makes democracies more immune from protests than others? The second webinar of the Democracies In Distress series will gather experts from a variety of countries to provide insights into the causes and significance of protests in times of Covid-19.

Speakers:

• Liliana Zambrano, University of Deusto (Spain), will focus on the protests in Colombia

• Maciej Kowalewski, Professor, University of Szczecin (Poland), will provide an analysis on both the relationship between the Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Covid-19 in the United States and the protests from women's rights in Poland

• Raul Magni Berton, Professor of Political Science, University of Grenoble (France) and Sarah Moretti, MA research assistant, will analyse the impact of Covid-19 on the protests in France

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): ‘Recent Elections in Albania, Bulgaria and Cyprus During the Pandemic’ - 27 May 2021, 9.00-10.15 (EDT) / 15.00-16.15 (CEST)

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What are the lessons from the recent parliamentary elections in Albania, Bulgaria and Cyprus, both their impact on democracy and on what the pandemic means for holding elections that respect the will of the electorate? What was the experience of a newly restructured Central Election Commission administering elections in Albania? What was the impact of the April elections and its fragmented result on the democratic process in Bulgaria? And what can we expect from the upcoming elections in Cyprus from the perspective of sexual politics and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) movement?

Please join IFES and experts from the region to discuss.

The event will be moderated by IFES IFES Senior Political Finance Adviser and Regional Europe Office Director Magnus Öhman and feature the following panelists:

• Dr. Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz, Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, IFES

• Dr. Teodor Slavev, Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives

• Dr. Nayia Kamenou, Lecturer in the Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus

• Ilirjan Celibashi, State Electoral Commissioner, Albania

World Justice Project: ‘World Justice Challenge 2021 Live Awards Presentation’ - 26 May 2021, 11.00-12.30 (EST)

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Join us for the World Justice Challenge 2021: Advancing the Rule of Law in a Time of Crisis awards celebration! Six high-impact projects out of 30 finalists will be recognized with cash awards ($20,000 USD) for their demonstrable results and promising prospects for progress, replication, and scaling.

Don’t miss this chance to see the World Justice Challenge 2021 winners announced live and celebrate their inspirational work! The program also includes a high-Level panel on COVID-19 and the rule of law.

Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance: ‘Connecting to Congress During Covid-19: Political Representation and Two-Way Crisis Communication’ - 25 May 2021, 11.00-12.00 (AEST)

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RSVP for Zoom meeting link via francesco.veri@canberra.edu.au

As the COVID-19 crisis rapidly escalated in the United States, Congress needed to pivot from its normal representational activities to: 1) find ways to disseminate reliable information regarding the crisis, 2) find ways to gather relevant information about the rapidly evolving needs of their constituents to inform responsive legislation, and 3) encourage compliance with public health measures. We were in the field running experiments with Deliberative Town Halls (DTHs) when the pandemic hit. So we quickly adapted the structure of the standard DTH model to facilitate the kinds of interactions called for by the crisis: whereas pre-COVID-19 DTHs focused on a single issue with a single member of Congress, the COVID-19 events often featured a bipartisan pair of members, participating alongside subject matter experts. This structure vividly communicated bi-partisan messages regarding public health compliance, sent credible signals about the information being provided to constituents of both parties, and reassured them that normal partisan jousting would not interfere with the crafting policy to manage the urgent needs of the crisis. They also allowed members to gather the information necessary to develop policies that would be responsive to needs as articulated by their constituents. They also allowed constituents to express their opinions and feelings on COVID-19 related policies, Congress’s handling of the pandemic, and the personal struggles they had faced as the effects of the pandemic unfolded.

N.B. – 1) This presentation is based on joint work with Abigail Kielty and Amy Lee; 2) the analyses are preliminary and largely descriptive at this point; and 3) I will begin the presentation with a more general overview of the research strategy behind the larger connecting to Congress project.

Institute of Development Studies: ‘Closing Civic Space under Covid – Implications for Governance and Civic Action’ - 21 May 2021, 13.00-15.00 (London time)

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In May, the Action for Empowerment and Accountability Programme (A4EA) will release a new report, ‘Navigating Civic Space in a Time of Covid’. Based on ground-level research with partners in each country, the report examines the dynamics of changing civic space in Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan. It points to shrinking civic space in the face of new restrictions introduced under cover of Covid-19 emergency measures, as well as a dynamic and resilient response from civil society actors.

It is not alone in these findings. Over the last few months, a number of researchers, activists, and others have warned of the acceleration of already present trends of democratic backsliding, authoritarianism and closing civic space in many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. This roundtable seeks to bring together key researchers, policy makers, donors and partners to ask:

• What are the implications of these trends for civil society actors, donors and policy makers interested in protecting and expanding democratic governance?

• How can we best collectively respond to the existing and new tactics that are being used to restrict civic space?

• What emerging strategies offer most hope for protecting and strengthening civil society’s role in shaping a post-pandemic world?  

Speakers:

Thomas Carothers, Interim President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

 Rosie McGee, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

Koketso Moetsi, Executive Director, amandla.mobi

Nicola Nixon and Sumaya Saluja, Asia Foundation

Mandeep S. Tiwana, Chief Programmes Officer, Civicus

Marisa von Bülow, Professor, Political Science Institute, University of Brasilia, and member of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Civic Research Network

Chair:

John Gaventa, Research Fellow and A4EA Programme Director, Institute of Development Studies

13th Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF 13): ‘Peoples’ Resistance Against Shrinking Spaces in the Time of COVID-19’ - 20 May 2021, 12.30 (Brussels time) / 18.30 (Manila time)

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Organised by IBON International Europe, Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG), Viva Salud, People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) and Asia-Pacific Research Network (APRN), this webinar is part of the 13th Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF). It will bring together analysis from Europe and Asia on the weaponisation of the pandemic against the people, highlight good and effective practices of people’s organizations and civil society in pushing back shrinking spaces, human rights violations and political repression, and discuss the use and effectiveness of available international human rights instruments and mechanisms. Participants will identify challenges and recommendations to forge greater solidarity among peoples, and present recommendations to European and Asian parliamentarians on opening up spaces and strengthening support for campaigns and advocacy engagements on people’s rights.

University of Oxford Faculty of Law: ‘Bingham Lecture - Against the Clock: Brexit, COVID-19 and the Constitution’ - 18 May 2021, 17.00 (London time)

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This year's Bingham lecture will be given by Dr Hannah White, Deputy Director at the Institute of Government. Time pressure is a necessary constraint on aspects of the constitution, but it can also pose a threat to good government, parliamentary accountability and scrutiny. In this lecture Hannah White will consider the impact on the constitution of the time constraints created by the Article 50 process and the COVID-19 pandemic. She will examine the ways in which time pressure shaped the May and Johnson governments’ strategies for giving effect to the 2016 referendum result and how they controlled time in pursuit of their policy objectives. She will discuss the impact on procedures and conventions of the imperative for the government to act swiftly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opportunities and risks of the precedents set. In concluding she will reflect on the lasting legacy of the time pressure exerted on the constitution during these two exceptional periods and offer some thoughts about how the constitution might be protected against the negative consequences of governing under time constraints.

Verfassungsblog: ‘Webinar Series: Power and the COVID-19 Pandemic’ - 12-14 May 2021

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Marking the conclusion of the "Power and the COVID-19 Pandemic" Symposium, this webinar series brings together contributors from around to the world to discuss the impact of the pandemic on law and governance, drawing on five transversal themes: human rights; democracy; the rule of law; science and decision-making; and the impact of an extended emergency.

The 2021 "Power and the COVID-19 Pandemic" was hosted by the Verfassungsblog, convened by Joelle Grogan, and supported by Democracy Reporting International, the Horizon-2020 RECONNECT Project and the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.

Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center: ‘Post-pandemic South Asia: How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect Bangladesh’s politics, economy, and healthcare’ - 11 May 2021, 10.00-11.00 (EST)

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The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened existing cleavages present in Bangladesh’s economy, society, politics, and healthcare infrastructure. In a post-pandemic world, Bangladesh will be compelled to cope with economic challenges as it prepares to graduate from its least developed country status in 2026. It will also have to respond to other internal problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those related to a non-inclusive political environment, climate change, the relocation of Rohingya refugees, and a strained healthcare system.

Moreover, schisms in Bangladesh’s relations with neighboring India have been exposed, following protests related to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on the occasion of the country’s golden jubilee celebrations. With increasing regional competition, a changing geopolitical environment with vaccine competition between India and China, and an ongoing democratic crisis in Myanmar next-door, Bangladesh will need to come up with creative responses that uplift all segments of Bangladeshi society and position itself at the forefront of climate change action and Rohingya resettlement.

Join the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of Bangladesh’s economic, political, and healthcare landscapes in the context of the evolving COVID-19 landscape.