- Election
Observation - Human Rights
About EHRO
International Election Observation.
Although foreign observers have been employed during crucial elections since the inter-war period, it was first with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 that election observation became an integral feature of the numerous transitions to democracy in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Since 1996, we have trained more than 300 students in the logic, pratice and effects of international election observation.The next course is starting in 2005.
Due to the last decade's many democratisation processes in different
parts of the world, an increasing demand for election observers has occurred.
The distance-learning course in International Election Observation at
the University of Bergen is constructed as to meet this demand, and to
prepare candidates for assigned missions organized by Norwegian and international
institutions such as the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IMR,
the Helsinki Federation, the OSCE and the UN.
The course will provide the students with an enhanced understanding of
the opportunities and restrictions an election observer is confronted
with before, under and after a mission. Particular emphasis is put on
short-term and long-term observation, but also the tasks and responsibilities
of an on-site co-ordinator with regards to planning and administration
of an election observation mission will be covered. Throughout the course,
the candidates will learn how to analyse various electoral models in democratic
systems, and in particular those in countries and regions undergoing a
transition or consolidation of their political system.
Based upon a theoretical understanding of the importance of the elections
in a democracy, an understanding of the impact of different cultural variations,
the course ultimately aims at prepare the students for the participation
in an election observation in an international context. Former students
at our course have thus participated in election observations in countries
as diverse as Colombia, Guatemala, East Timor, Cambodia, Mozambique, Tanzania,
Poland and Russia. *
The course will be of relevance for:
- Candidates who wish to participate in task forces for election observation
missions which the UN Charter and the Paris Convention commit to Norway.
- Candidates who wish to take part in task forces administrated
by national or international Non-Governmental Organisations.
- Candidates with a professional background as security officers
(military, police).
- Journalists and other members of media institutions that cover
events with regards to elections and election observation.
- Civil servants who have responsibilities and tasks in connection
with the administration of Norwegian parliamentary and local elections.
- Lawyers or other professionals with a legal background
Content, extension and tuition.
International Election Observation is a further/postgraduate course within
the academic field of the social sciences. Completion of the course will
give 15 Norwegian academic credit points (or the equivalent of 15 ECTS
points.) at master level, and is organised as a 6-month part time study.
Curriculum.
The curriculum consists of approximately 1000 pages, and covers the following
main issues:
| Election systems: a) Election systems and models b) Electoral fraud; - historic forms |
Campaign assessments: a) The validity of the election observation b) Laws and the regulation of elections c) Relations with the press |
Election observation: a) Ethics and behaviour b) The role of the observer c) Culture d) Values |
Exam.
The candidate is given four weeks to write a final paper on a specified
topic. The topic will be given at the last lecture as well as being published
on this site. Deadline for the final paper is set to 4 weeks after the
last lecture. The paper should consist of no more than 4500 words (approximately
ten pages with double spacing). The mark scale goes from A - E for passed
exam, where A is the best mark and E is the lowest possible passed mark.
Cost.
The course fee is NOK 12.000,-. In addition there will be some expenses
for study material and eventual travel and accommodation. The fee includes
a compendium covering the majority of the curriculum.
Application and deadline.
As for the course 2007, the dates for the seminars are not yet ready:
1. February
2. March
3. April
Application deadline: December 2006
(Or till course start in case of vacant positions)
Applicationform
or at the bottom left of this page SEVU
Please also fill in the following form
Entrance and entrance requirements.
A minimum entrance requirement to the course is that the applicant is
interested in taking part in a task force of election observers. In order
to be accepted as a student, the candidate must have completed a bachelor
degree, or an equivalent university or polytechnic education. Relevant
work experience may substitute the criteria for higher education. Applicants
with more than three years of relevant work experience after finished
academic degree will be prioritised for entrance. Applicants with language
skills in addition to English will also be prioritised.
NOTE: Acceptance to this course will by no means imply any guarantee
for missions as an election observer. The candidate him/herself must apply
and be accepted to one or more task forces.
For further information please contact Terje Knutsen
espen.dahle@isp.uib.no
Phone nr: 55582018
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