Best Practices of Effective Parties: Three training modules for political parties
Although a majority of Latin Americans believe democracy is preferable to other political systems, most are not satisfied with democracy in their own country. Recent Latinobarometro polls show that four out of five Latin Americans have lost trust in their political parties, mirroring a disturbing trend worldwide.
Concerned about growing disillusionment among citizens, Latin American political party leaders have recognized the need for party renewal and practical approaches to implementation. In response to this need, and
based on work with political parties in over 50 countries since 1983, NDI has identified three fundamental characteristics of successful political parties that transcend geographic boundaries and ideologies.
Around the world, healthy parties:
• develop and maintain democratic internal structures,
• promote and enforce transparency and accountability, and
• consistently revitalize their membership through outreach to new sectors.
NDI’s Triangle of Best Practices of Effective Parties identifies the best practices that political parties adopt to consistently improve their performance within these three areas. NDI developed a series of modules for use by party trainers, on internal democracy, transparency and outreach. These modules aim to help parties examine and improve current organizational practices and institute new practices as needed. While they were developed for Latin American parties, these materials can be applied to parties worldwide.
Although a majority of Latin Americans believe democracy is preferable to other political systems, most are not satisfied with democracy in their own country. Recent Latinobarometro polls show that four out of five Latin Americans have lost trust in their political parties, mirroring a disturbing trend worldwide.
Concerned about growing disillusionment among citizens, Latin American political party leaders have recognized the need for party renewal and practical approaches to implementation. In response to this need, and
based on work with political parties in over 50 countries since 1983, NDI has identified three fundamental characteristics of successful political parties that transcend geographic boundaries and ideologies.
Around the world, healthy parties:
• develop and maintain democratic internal structures,
• promote and enforce transparency and accountability, and
• consistently revitalize their membership through outreach to new sectors.
NDI’s Triangle of Best Practices of Effective Parties identifies the best practices that political parties adopt to consistently improve their performance within these three areas. NDI developed a series of modules for use by party trainers, on internal democracy, transparency and outreach. These modules aim to help parties examine and improve current organizational practices and institute new practices as needed. While they were developed for Latin American parties, these materials can be applied to parties worldwide.
