Reports and Papers
The author surveys regulatory trends in Europe. Internal party oversight and external governmental oversight must be balanced in order to secure compliance without freezing the party system.
Political finance and State funding systems
The author describes sources of variation in political finance regulatory frameworks with special attention to state funding systems.
Political Integrity Introduction
The authors survey goals, means and the timing of political finance reforms, taking a global perspective.
A Sisyphus’ Task? State Control and Civil Society Oversight of Political Finance
Dr. Bruno Wilhelm Speck
This paper was presented at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Athens, Greece in November 2008. Under the premise that political finance is a necessary feature of political competition which must not cause damage to democracy, the paper addresses the risks stemming from money in politics and explores current methods to regulate these risks. It places an emphasis on state regulatory regimes and civil society organizations to monitor, evaluate and implement initiatives to combat the abuse of money.
Political Finance Systems in Egypt, Regulation and Disclosure: The Way Out
Prof. Abdul-Monem Al-Mashat
This paper was presented at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Athens, Greece in November 2008. In this paper, Al-Mashat discusses political finance in Egypt: its sources, distribution, rules of disbursement, whether it is based on political corruption and how much transparency there is in handling state funds. He also explores the socio-political context in which funds operate using the 2005, 2007 and 2008 elections as case studies.
Monitoring of Election Campaign Finance in Armenia, 2007-2008
Varuzhan Hoktanyan
This paper was presented at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Athens, Greece in November 2008. Hoktanyan analyzes the methodology and results of two campaign finance monitoring projects that took place from 2007 and 2008 in Armenia. Armenia, he argues, suffers from many shortcomings in the field of money and politics, specifically in the areas of regulation and transparency.
Ensuring Equal Rights of Election Process (IFES White Paper I)
Dr. Marcin Walecki
This paper addresses how, regardless of the differences in the electoral systems, most ‘unfair’ elections result from the political finance irregularities connected with unequal participation. A fair and competitive electoral process is necessary for the whole process of democratisation. The concept of fairness is closely connected with the notion of “a level playing field”. In fact, access to important political resources, such as political money, and equal opportunities indicate progress in democratic transition.
Political
Finance Regulation in Guatemala: A Comparative Survey (IFES White
Paper II)
Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora
As in most Latin American countries, the funding of political activities has only recently become a matter of serious concern in Guatemala. This paper summarily describes the current state of the Guatemalan political finance laws, their situation vis-à-vis the regulation of political finance in the rest of Central America and beyond, and some of the practical consequences derived from the existing framework. These consequences include, of course, the scandals that have contributed to attract attention to the topic.
La
Regulación de las Finanzas Políticas en Guatemala:
Una Indagación Comparativa (IFES White Paper II
- Spanish Version)
Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora
Political
Money and Corruption (IFES White Paper III)
Dr. Marcin Walecki
This paper discusses how political finance is influenced by, and influences, relations between parties, politicians, party membership and the electorate. It considers how problems of political finance are at the heart of the debate on political corruption and how the meaning of political finance-related corruption is often unclear.
From
Discourse to Action: Avoiding Pitfalls in Political Finance
(IFES White Paper IV)
Jeffrey Carlson
Prosecution of Electoral Fraud Under United States
Federal Law
(IFES White Paper V)
Craig C. Donsanto
This paper will explore the prosecution of election fraud in the United States Federal Judicial System. It was prepared to accompany remarks by the author at a series of seminars on electoral corruption and vote buying that took place in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Role of Media in Democracy: A Strategic Approach
This strategic approach is intended to help USAID field staff make informed decisions with regard to programming media development activities. It analyzes a history of USAID involvement in this area and outlines lessons learned to be incorporated into future programming.
Aspects
of Political Financing: Addressing Specific Objectives for Reforms
in the Russian Federation
Dr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky
This paper addresses some of the main questions raised during the roundtable conference organized by the International Foundation for Election Systems and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on 18 December 1997. The title of the roundtable was Campaign Finance Disclosure and Enforcement: Russian and Comparative Perspectives. It also discusses questions raised at additional meetings with staff members of the Central Election Commission on 17 and 19 December 1997.
Campaign
Finance in Central and Eastern Europe: Lessons Learned and
Challenges Ahead
Dr. Janis Ikstens, Dr. Daniel Smilov, and Dr. Marcin Walecki
This study contains information for 17 post-communist countries. The study analyzes laws and regulations related to the financing of political parties, presidential candidates and parliamentary campaigns.
Campaign
Finance in Foreign Countries: Legal Regulation and Political
Practices
Dr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky and Dr. Alexander Postnikov
This survey gives an overview of the experience of a number of western countries (USA, Great Britain, France, and Spain) in terms of financing regulation related to the participation in elections of candidates and political parties. The main attention was given to the implementation of legislative regulations that are aimed at the limitation of the influence of money on the election process. The essential factors that hinder effective control of the state and the civil society over the money flows used for campaign finance purposes are shown.
Financing
Politics – A Global View
Dr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky
This paper examines the financing of politics from a global perspective. It includes analyses of political corruption, laws and regulations, and enforcement problems, and concludes by drawing lessons learned.
Lithuania:
Money & Politics Case Study
Jeffrey Carlson and Dr. Marcin Walecki
Beginning in the spring of 2002, Political Finance Expert and IFES Board Member Dr. Michael Pinto-Duschinsky provided technical comments on draft amendments to laws concerning the financing of political parties, political organizations, election campaigns and referendums with funding from the European Union PHARE program. From September to November, IFES and CEC with support from the ACEEEO took raised the level of political finance information available and encourage debate through its Money and Politics (MAP) Program with funding from USAID. IFES followed up this work by conducting an informal assessment of project activities in June 2003.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 1
Robert Dahl
Published in December 1999, the focus of this report is regulation of political finance in Indonesia during the June 1999 general elections. IFES notes the closely related issues of both election-related bribery and ethics rules for public officials. The report includes recommendations for improving mechanisms for political finance regulation and transparency in Indonesia.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 2
Robert Dahl
Published in June 2000, this political finance update regards the status of regulation and public disclosure of political party financial activity in Indonesia one year after general elections. The report includes recommendations for improving mechanisms for political finance regulation and transparency in Indonesia.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 3
Robert Dahl
Published in November 2002, this report is intended to assist the process of revising Indonesia’s general election law and political party law. The report discusses key elements of political finance laws, reviews draft laws, and provides recommendations.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 4
Robert Dahl
Published in May 2003, this report examines opportunities for improving regulation and disclosure of political party and candidate funding in the election campaign through the development of comprehensive implementing regulations by Indonesia’s General Elections Commission (KPU) and through the monitoring efforts of news media and civil society.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 5
Robert Dahl
Published in September 2003, this brief report focuses upon key aspects of legal restrictions and requirements for campaign finance activity of electoral participants that may deserve further elaboration through report examines challenges opportunities for improving regulation and disclosure of political party and candidate funding in the election campaign through decrees of Indonesia’s General Elections Commission (KPU). The analysis – Challenges and Opportunities – follows up extensive discussion of political finance issues in Indonesia in IFES’ previous four volumes of Money and Politics in Indonesia.
Money
and Politics in Indonesia – Volume 6
Robert Dahl
Published in November 2004, this report focuses upon implementation in Indonesia’s 2004 elections of legal requirements for financial reporting by political parties and candidates. This report includes a discussion of political finance reporting requirements and reporting schedules, and describes the apparent extent of compliance by political parties and candidates with the basic disclosure requirements.
Political
Money and Political Corruption: Considerations for Nigeria
Dr. Marcin Walecki
Paper delivered at the “INEC-Civil Society Forum Seminar on Agenda for Electoral Reform” in November 2003 in Nigeria. This paper discusses how political finance is influenced by, and influences, relations between parties, politicians, party membership and the electorate. Money matters for democracy because much of democratic political activity simply could not occur without it. Narrow definitions of political finance tend to focus on ‘campaign and party funding’. In fact, many extra-party actors are involved in political competition with the objective of shaping public policy agendas, influencing legislation or electoral debates and outcomes.
Regulation
of Political Funding Under Election Laws of the Russian Federation
Robert Dahl
This paper is an overview of important considerations for further refining of regulation of political funding under election laws of the Russian Federation as of April 1999. This analysis seeks to emphasize practical elements rather than absolute ideals. A search for perfection can sometimes defeat accomplishment of the good and sufficient, especially in this policy area. The goal of regulation of political finance should be to encourage fair and vigorous competition among political participants within a transparent political funding system.
In July 2000, IFES sponsored a seminar entitled “Controlling the Illegal Influence of Money Politics and Regulating Political Finance” in cooperation with IRI in Indonesia. The IFES seminar focused on practical aspects of efforts to control both illegal and legal influences of money in the political process.
The author surveys regulatory trends in Europe. Internal party oversight and external governmental oversight must be balanced in order to secure compliance without freezing the party system.
Political finance and State funding systems
The author describes sources of variation in political finance regulatory frameworks with special attention to state funding systems.
Political Integrity Introduction
The authors survey goals, means and the timing of political finance reforms, taking a global perspective.
Political Money and Corruption
The author surveys forms of corrupt political finance and potential remedies.