Focus on Lebanon | Lobby Training Manual

August 2010

Lobbying is a critical component of the democratic process. The essence of representative government is that policymakers should be representing the needs of their constituencies when they pass laws.

Gender Issues, Civil Society, Election Law, Election Management, Elections

Working for Increased Transparency in the Role of Money in Politics

March 22, 2010

People do not trust political parties. World Value Survey asked people in 54 countries if they have confidence in political parties (2004-2007), the percentage that answered "not very much" or "not at all" was 73%. There are few indications that this is decreasing.

Political Finance, Political Parties, Public Opinion, Civil Society, Public Funding

Focus on Lebanon | Control of Financial Assets Topic Brief

February 18, 2010

This topic brief presents key findings about asset control based on data from the 2009 SWMENA survey in Lebanon. It includes an analysis of women’s control over assets, focusing on how earnings are spent, financial decision making and control over personal property and financial savings.

Gender Issues, Public Funding, Political Finance, Financial Disclosure

Global Practices in Campaign Finance-an Excerpt from IFES' New Book

November 23, 2009

On November 19, 2009, IFES released Political Finance Regulation: The Global Experience, edited by Magnus Ohman and Hani Zainulbhai. The book offers insight into how the often-muddy intersection between money and politics can be regulated, taking into account the experiences of various countries around the world.

Political Finance, Financial Disclosure, Public Funding

Political Finance Regulation: The Global Experience

November 19, 2009

Political Finance Regulation: The Global Experience offers insight into how the often-muddy intersection between money and politics can be regulated, taking into account the experiences of various countries around the world. The concept for the book arose from the two-plus years of IFES’ work on a United Nations Democracy Fund project aimed at establishing global standards for political finance.

Political Finance, Financial Disclosure, Public Funding

Public Funding Solutions for Political Parties in Muslim-Majority Societies

July 22, 2009

An innovative, first-of-its-kind publication that explores the role of public funding in democracy development in Muslim-majority countries is being released today by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Public Funding, Political Parties, Political Finance

Introducing the First Study on the Impact of Public Funding on Muslim Democracies

July 22, 2009

An innovative, first-of-its-kind publication that explores the role of public funding in democracy development in Muslim-majority countries will be released on July 22, 2009 by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the United States Institute of Peace.

Public Funding, Political Parties, Political Finance

Voter Registration Modernization: A Case Study of the Canadian System of Voter Registration

June 26, 2009

American electoral officials and policymakers met with their Canadian counterparts in Toronto as part of an effort to modernize the U.S. voter registration system and address some of its shortfalls during a two-day conference earlier this month.

Voter Registration, Voting Technology, Electoral Systems, Election Management, Elections

Jean-Pierre Kingsley Urges Campaign Finance Reform for Jamaica

December 04, 2008

Jean-Pierre Kingsley, is encouraging Jamaica to press ahead with plans to fund political parties from the public purse.

Political Finance, Public Funding, Elections, Election Law

Spending Limits as a Policy Option

June 30, 2007

Citizens in many countries are upset because they believe the current financing of politics (which involves corruption and under-the-table deals) is violating the basic democratic values of equal opportunity, transparency and accountability. One way to bring the funding of political parties and candidates into line with these values is to regulate campaign expenditures through spending limits. This is a viable option, but such limits must be designed and implemented with care.

Elections, Political Finance, Public Funding