Symposium on the Pre-Election Survey
Political Parties and Democratization: Lessons from the 2007 Elections
Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 September 2007
Description of the Event
The results of the parliamentary elections of September 7, 2007 raise a number of important questions relating to the state of the democratization process in Morocco. One of the most troubling results, from the viewpoint of political analysts and party members alike, was the record low voter turnout. Major political and social actors must now take stock of what appears to be massive voter apathy and attempt to learn lessons for the future.
Prior to the elections, in June and July 2007, Al Akhawayn University conducted a pre-election survey of voter attitudes. While the survey did not foretell the low turnout, it did reveal ambiguities in how voters relate to political institutions, including the State, the government and the political parties.
Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane invites representatives of major political parties and of national and international NGOs to a symposium aimed at analyzing the election results in view of the pre-election survey’s findings. Four informal roundtable discussions will focus on the issues of voter confidence, local mobilization, political communications and legitimacy. The objectives of symposium are to foster an open exchange of ideas among senior political strategists while engaging with young and prospective voters.
Program
Wednesday 26 September
18:00-19:30 Welcome reception and Iftâr – AUI Restaurant
19:30 - 19:50 Opening addresses
- Dr Mohamed Dahbi, Doyen de la Faculté des Sciences Humaines et Sociales de l’Université Al Akhawayn
- Dr. Rachid Benmokhtar Benabdellan, President of Al Akhawayn University
19:50 – 20:20 Presentation of the results of the pre-election survey
- Dr. Abdelkrim Marzouk, Professeur à l’Université Al Akhawayn
20:20-21:30 1st Session: Trust in political parties
One of the principal findings of AUI’s pre-election survey was that voters place far greater trust in the State and its institutions than in the political parties and politicians elected to represent them. Why are parties the least trusted national institutions in Morocco? Was lack of trust in the parties a contributing factor in the low voter turn-out on September 7th? Have parties lost touch with the issues important to voters? Why are young voters those with the least confidence in parties?
21:30-21:45 Coffee break
21:45-23:00 2nd Session: Political parties vs. NGOs, what value for democratization?
National NGOs and local associations are increasingly present in the public sphere. Are citizens now turning to them instead of to the established political parties for their needs? Are civil society organizations now more successful than the parties at mobilizing youth, women and other constituencies? What role did these new social actors play in the 2007 campaign?
24:00 Dinner – AUI Restaurant
Thursday 27 September
9:30-10:30 3rd Session: Traditional vs. new means of communication: what works and what doesn’t?
During the 2007 campaign, political parties relied more than ever on new information technologies, such as audiovisual political marketing, political and electoral websites, and mobile communications, to get their messages across to voters. How did voters respond to the various publicity campaigns of parties and NGOs? How did young voters receive the messages? Was the lack of face-to-face contact and street-level campaigning by candidates a factor in the low voter turnout?
10:30-12:00 4th Session: Consolidating the democratic process and building party legitimacy
Political parties are a necessary condition for a fully functional democracy. What can be learnt from the results of 2007 elections? What could be done differently in the future? How can parties re-establish legitimacy in the eyes of voters? Is a new contract between the parties and civil society necessary? Can parties make better use of mass communication? Can parties make better use of public opinion surveys?
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