The Road to Democracy

Empirical evidence has revealed the transforming effect of empowering civic society with appropriate knowledge. World Bank initiatives promoting farmer education concerning the usage of fertilisers, improved crop types, and irrigation practices resulted in increased crop yields and waves of change throughout the agricultural sector. It is the belief of the contributors to this book that enhanced civic awareness and participation in the political and economic enviroment is a prerequisite determinant in consolidating democracy and sustaining the evolutionary political and economic reforms currently sweeping across Africa. Civic awareness is most effectively achieved through training opinion leaders and those at the helm of civil society. This book is a collection of papers used as teaching material during ESAURP Trainers of Trainers (TOT) seminars for leaders of political parties and civil society institutions. The purpose of which is to bring to the forefront issues of local concern through not only strengthening their own organisations but also empowering civil society organisations to venture into advocation. Some of papers are: The Role of Political Parties in Electoral Systems; The Role of Political Parties in Democratic Systems; The Challenges of Managing Political Parties; Conflict Management and Mediation within and among Political Parties; The Role of Media in a Democratic Society; Towards Multiparty Democracy in Tanzania; The Significance of Voter education in the Democratisation Process; The Position of Women in Political Party Leadership; The Place of Local Government in the Enhancement of the