SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION FLAGGING

MADRID, Oct 27 (Hina) - Opinion polls, conducted in more than 70 countries in the world, including Croatia, which showed that support for democracy in the world has been flagging, particularly in countries in transition, whose economies are in crisis and governments are considered corrupt and incapable of maintaining order, was one of the reasons for organising a conference on transition to democracy and its consolidation, held in Madrid this weekend. More than 30 former and incumbent heads of state and government from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, including Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, gathered for the Madrid conference on challenges of the transition process and building of democracy. The idea on organised and expert assistance to developing democracies, which was presented at Harvard University two years ago, was made a reality by the Spanish foundation for international relations and dialogue, FRIDE, and the Boston-based Gorbatchev Foundation, which organised the Madrid conference. A permanent committee, called the Madrid Club, was established at the end of the conference as part of efforts to continue providing advice and support for countries in transition. Most people around the world have a positive attitude towards democratic institutions and approve of democracy. However, a research on public support for democratic institutions and global prospects, prepared for a FIDE conference, shows a large part of the population in many countries is ready to support authoritarian solutions, such as the rule of a strong leader without elections or parliament, including army rule. Waning support for democracy, which has been reported in many countries, particularly in Latin America, shows the triumph of democracy from the early 1990's cannot be taken for granted. The establishment of democratic institutions itself does not guarantee that those institutions will survive and develop and if people do not have positive first-hand experience under democratic institutions, those institutions are in danger of being abandoned. Asked if it was good or very good to live in a democratic system, most respondents (91%) answered affirmatively. In Croatia, 94% of respondents (in 1999) answered affirmatively. Support for democracy was the lowest in Russia, 62%. On the average, 90% of the world population believe democracy with problems is better than other forms of rule; 96% of respondents in Croatia shared this opinion in 1999, while only 56% of Russian respondents were willing to support this statement. Asked if a strong leader who does not bother with elections and parliament would be a good solution, most respondents in 17 countries answered affirmatively. Respondents in most other countries were mainly divided over this question, with equal support-opposition ratio. Support for authoritarian practice is more present in most new democracies. Croatia is fourth on the list, with only 11% of respondents supporting this option. Asked if they would prefer the rule of experts to the rule of politicians, a concept which has little support in old democracies, 82% of Croatian respondents in 1995 and 87% in 2000 answered affirmatively, placing Croatia second on the list of 70 countries. Army rule was supported in only two countries - Albania and the Philippines. This concept received 30-45% support in young democracies. Thirty percent of respondents in Croatia supported this option in 1995. A poll conducted in around 40 countries, where respondents were asked about their satisfaction with the functioning of democracy, showed 49% of respondents are relatively satisfied with the functioning of democratic systems, while in Croatia only 18% of respondents answered affirmatively in 1999. The surveys also reflected worrying changes in support for democracy in Latin America. (hina) rml