Delivering Democracy? An Analysis of Election Management Body Capacity in Four Countries

人们普遍认识到，定期的竞争性选举是民主的重要组成部分，但许多选举未能达到国际标准或公民的期望。这并不总是由于政治行为者玩忽职守或选举官员非正常地追求特殊结果。虽然选举管理的失败往往被忽视为一个因素，但选举管理机构的能力限制，例如缺乏资源或技术弱点，往往影响选举的公信力。这可能会影响民选政客的合法性，破坏对民主机构的信任，甚至导致暴力。这突出表明，需要更深入地了解教统局的能力及其在促进选举廉正方面所发挥的作用。通过对四个国家(加纳、马拉维、巴基斯坦和巴布亚新几内亚)的研究，本博士学位将扩展现有对教育统筹局能力的定义，并研究能力不足的影响。研究框架将基于多学科文献综述，借鉴政治学、公共行政和国际发展的见解。每个案例研究将涉及详细的案头审查、对选举利益相关者的调查以及与教育统筹局官员、公民社会组织、公民观察员、政党、捐赠者和选举援助组织的访谈。本博士学位将促进对选举管理这一关键但研究不足的方面的学术理解，并为选举委员会、政策制定者和捐赠者提供关于如何增强教育统筹局能力的见解。在世界各地的民主正面临多方面挑战的时候，这样做将对促进选举廉正作出重要贡献。

It is widely recognised that regular, competitive elections are an essential component ofdemocracy, yet many elections fail to meet international standards or the expectations ofcitizens. This is not always due to malpractice by political actors or the irregular pursuit of aparticular outcome by election officials. While failures in electoral administration are oftenoverlooked as a factor, capacity limitations on the part of election management bodies (EMBs),for example a lack of resources or technical weaknesses, frequently impact the credibility ofelections. This can affect the perceived legitimacy of elected politicians, undermine trust indemocratic institutions and even lead to violence.This highlights the need for a much deeper understanding of EMB capacity and the role it playsin promoting electoral integrity. Through a study of four countries (Ghana, Malawi, Pakistan andPapua New Guinea), this PhD will extend existing definitions of EMB capacity and examine theimpact of insufficient capacity.The research framework will be developed based on a multi-disciplinary literature review thatdraws on insights from political science, public administration and international development.Each case study will involve a detailed desk review, a survey of electoral stakeholders andfieldwork involving interviews with EMB officials, civil society organisations, citizen observers,political parties, donors and electoral assistance organisations.This PhD will advance academic understanding of this crucial yet understudied aspect ofelection administration and provide insights for electoral commissions, policymakers and donorsinto how EMB capacity can be enhanced. In doing so, it will make an important contribution tothe promotion of electoral integrity at a time when democracy around the world is facingchallenges on multiple fronts.