The American philosopher and futurologist Jeremy Rifkin, in his book The European Dream, has talked about Europe’s vision for the future and how our use of ‘soft power’ is replacing ‘hard power’ as a force for good in an ever globalising world.
Last year I was extremely honoured to be asked by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, to be the Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission in the United Republic of Tanzania.
I believe that election observation and assistance goes to the heart of what the EU now stands for in our ever globalising world – democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The original motivation behind the creation of the European Union was to make war impossible between its member states. Peace led to prosperity and the original six members soon increased to nine.
In order to become a member state applicants have to be democracies, respect human rights and have abolished the death penalty. The desire to be part of the new European family helped to establish these principles in Greece, Portugal and Spain in southern Europe; remove the ‘iron curtain’ and usher in a new age in the older eastern European states; and is a driver towards increasing human rights and the abolition of the death penalty in applicant countries such as Turkey.
The American philosopher and futurologist Jeremy Rifkin, in his book The European Dream, has talked about Europe’s vision for the future and how our use of ‘soft power’ is replacing ‘hard power’ as a force for good in an ever globalising world.
The primary currencies or elements of soft power are an actor’s values, culture, policies and institutions and the extent to which these ‘primary currencies’ are able to attract or repel other actors to ‘want what you want’.
The consensus within the European Union is that goals such as the promotion of democracy and human rights are best achieved by soft power.
Election observation is a vital EU activity aiming to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide. It contributes to strengthening democratic institutions, building public confidence in electoral processes, helping to deter fraud, intimidation and violence. It also reinforces other key EU foreign policy objectives, in particular peace building.
Since 2000 over 70 EU elections observation missions have been deployed worldwide.
Election observation gives the opportunity to access an electoral process according to international standards and best practice for genuine democratic elections. These standards are established by international and regional legal treaties. The country’s political commitments constitute universal principles that apply to the conduct of elections, such as fundamental freedoms and political rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Upon invitation of the Tanzanian authorities, the European Union deployed for the first time in Tanzania an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) I was appointed Chief Observer of that Mission.
The EU was invited by the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to observe all aspects of the electoral process and to assess compliance with international principles for elections and domestic law.
At the official launch I stated on behalf of the EU: ‘We are very pleased to be in Tanzania and observe the elections based on our methodology developed through observation experience in more than seventy countries. We are neutral and impartial in our assessments and we hope the Mission will contribute to a credible democratic process’.
In Tanzania I headed a team of over 80 personnel: six electoral and legal experts; 22 long-term observers (LTOs); and more than 40 short-term observers. A six member Delegation of the European Parliament also joined the EU Observation mission.
The observers were deployed throughout the country to observe the election procedure before, during and after the elections and assess the electoral campaign, the election preparations, election day, counting and tabulation of results and post-election activities including complaints and appeals procedures.
The Mission also evaluated the general electoral context, the administration of the electoral process, the media environment and the human rights situation as it relates to elections, and participation of women and minorities.
I was delighted that my prediction the day before polling that these would be ‘the most peaceful general election’ for years came to pass.
On election day itself the Mission deployed 102 observers from all 27 EU member states, as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland to assess the electoral process against the Tanzaian and Zanzibari Constitutions.
The Tanzanians went to the polls on 31 October 2010 and, as they have been doing since the multiparty system was reintroduced in the country almost 20 years ago, again maintained in power the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM). This result gave a second, and final, mandate to the Union President Jakaya Kikwete.
I am very proud to have been able to play a role in supporting democracy in Tanzania and helping to maintain our ethos of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in such a peaceful manner. Long may we continue to promote soft power.