SWEDEN, as the current president of the European Council, organised the fourth European Development Days program in Stockholm in the fourth week of October. Many important dignitaries from the international arena participated including several heads of state and heads of government such as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I was also there as adviser to International IDEA, a Swedish NGO associated with democracy-building and good governance.

It was interesting to watch the representatives of European states, heads of financial institutions (the IMF, the World Bank, Grameen Bank, the Ebrd) and regional intergovernmental organisations discuss measures and explore ways and means for regional organisations to incrementally build a shared global agenda for democracy and development as mutually supportive processes. The forum turned out to be a venue for the exchange of experiences and for identification of the potential for practical cooperation in an environment of mutual support between peers. It also assumed special significance because of its examination of the various aspects that still remain unresolved before the world can enter into an agreement during the Climate Change Summit that is being convened in Copenhagen, Denmark in December this year.

Democracy is a complicated issue but democracy building is even more difficult. We have been witness to this phenomenon especially in Bangladesh. We have seen how despite a fair and credible parliamentary election, governance can face jeopardy because of obstinacy on the part of the parties belonging to the opposition. Such situations in Bangladesh and elsewhere have led many in development assistance circles to remark that while democracy commands strong popular support worldwide, concerns are growing about the state of democracy in many regions and countries. Some speakers also identified the causes of such concern as the failure to properly deliver impartial non-politicised social and economic development. Others referred to the challenges being faced with regard to capacity and resources.

One important truism is that democracy is not only an end in itself but also an important means to other ends. From that point of view the recent efforts by IDEA to carefully examine the nexus between democracy and development, and how it can contribute towards effective partnership between the European Union and the rest of the world, deserves special mention. The 'Final Report' that has emerged from this exercise has assumed special importance because it was the result of intensive and in-depth dialogue with partners in Latin America, the Arab world, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

To many, the European Union has become synonymous with equality in terms of access and opportunity. This thesis is accepted in general because of the EU's concern with democratic political values, guaranteeing of human rights and the delivery of social and economic development. From that point of view, it is also acknowledged that the democratic process is vital for addressing the political aspect of poverty.

Accountability to citizens enables democratic governments to chart a political course supported by its people where ability exists to effect change when needed. This potential is enhanced when we are able to bring together a broader understanding of democracy through the juxtaposition of the procedural and institutional aspects with the delivery element.

Two factors have emerged, in particular, in this regard -- the on-going international financial crisis that has affected large swathes of population in different countries of the developing world and the very question of the ability of democracy to delivery on citizens' needs and expectations. Development partners all over the world are now consequently re-examining their experiences over the past decade.

The dialogue in Stockholm was instrumental in re-affirming the consensus that development is not only a general improvement of the 'quality of life' through GDP growth for the majority of the population but also includes the effective fulfillment of human rights, including civic and political rights. It also reiterated that democracy is a value that needs to be pursued not only for its own sake but also as a system of governance expected to deliver better opportunities so that citizens can attain a higher standard of living without large disparities in income distribution. The meeting also reiterated quite correctly that if care is not taken in this regard, it might seriously affect the credibility of democratic institutions, including that of parliaments and political parties. We in Bangladesh need to pay special attention to this assumption.

In this context, as a stakeholder in the democratic process, I believe that the time has come for us in Bangladesh to facilitate the awareness that we must invest in developing long-term visions. It would also be important for the EU to help create the institutions to translate such long-term visions into reality, support them and then follow up.

One factor that could contribute towards this outcome could be the capacity to build consensus on democratic and development goals among the various sectors and components of a society. It will require pro-democratic engagement and hands-on interaction through the use of a participatory institutional approach.

We have to understand that globalisation is a reality and that economic, political and strategic challenges are no longer confined within borders. Consequently, there is a need for states and the wider civil society to act in cross-regional cooperation to face them. This could, then, form the basis for achievable policies and efficient action and lead to 'a realist, zero-sum approach to a positive-sum paradigm.' We have to remember that stability and security within processes of democratic change (i.e. elections, political representation, institutional building) allow for democracy to take root. Coherence and synergy between policies in support of democracy and other policies implemented by international and regional actors also strengthen this process. This is so because effective democracy support requires coherence and synergy between different actors and policies.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net.