Ribot, J. 2002. Democratic Decentralization of Natural Resources Institutionalizing Popular Participation. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.

See further the work of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, e.g. E CN.4 2004 10.

Strengthening the structure of democratic governance in Nigeria , speech by President Obasanjo of Nigeria at the inauguration of the National Political Reforms Conference, 21 February 21, 2005.

Human rights activists in the United States are calling for legislation that would prevent American companies from engaging in business practices that help repressive regimes stifle democratic movements.

Since 1997, 55 61 of voters have voted for democratic candidates in Legislative Council elections. The last time a slightly smaller election committee met (to choose Leung), less restrictive constraints on candidate selection were in place, and the leader of the Democratic Party was able to be nominated (though he still received less than 7 of the vote).

He toured Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya in September 2011 and received a hero s welcome. He presented his Justice and Development Party as the Muslim equivalent of Europe s Christian Democratic parties, combining economic growth, anti corruption policies, and free elections.

While those on the left support cautious acceptance of refugees, the further one moves to the right, the more negative the attitude becomes. Even the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party to Merkel s Christian Democratic Union, has proved a reluctant partner in this area.

But it is not inclusive enough to serve as the Syrian opposition s sole representative. Attempts to enlarge the SNC have been unsuccessful, owing to reservations expressed by some important groups, such as the Democratic Forum, about joining an organization that relies on foreign sponsors.

Similarly, Portugal s center right Social Democratic Party has pushed a tough pro austerity line, including tax hikes and spending cuts, since coming to power in 2011. But new measures introduced last month have driven an increasingly frustrated population which, until recently, had endured painful austerity with little of the public outcry seen elsewhere in southern Europe to the streets to demand a general election two years ahead of schedule.

If the election were held today, Neves or other plausible candidates from his party would win handily. If Rousseff, plagued by scandals and a stalled economy, manages to complete her term, the social democrats look well placed to win three years from now.

But the opposition Democratic Party which returned 159 MPs, mainly from Bangkok and southern Thailand has lately been staging protests in the capital. The so called People s Committee for Democratic Reform led by former Democratic Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban and supported by the Bangkok based establishment has effectively attempted to stage a coup.

The EPP s victory was thus due mainly to the fact that the ratio of voters per MEP varies greatly across countries. A single vote in Italy (and in other large countries) is worth much less than a vote in smaller countries.

But, though the Alliance certainly lost, the main opposition Swedish Social Democratic Party and its allies on the left did not win. In fact, the three leftist parties in Parliament gained a slightly smaller share of the popular vote than they did in the 2010 election.

It is amazing to watch how quickly Christian Democrats and Social Democrats have forgotten their electoral promises and agreed on a program of higher taxation. One may doubt whether this will increase popular confidence in the political class, but for now, at least, the arrangement is working.