Human Development Repot 2003: Keeping Democracy in a fragmented world

Politics matter for human development. Reducing poverty depends as much on whether poor people have political power as on their opportunities for economic progress. Democracy has proven to be the system of governance most capable of mediating and preventing conflict and of securing and sustaining well-being. By expanding people's choices about how and by whom they are governed, democracy brings principles of participation and accountability to the process of human development. Human Development Report 2002: Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World examines political participation as a dimension of human development. Far from being a luxury for developing countries, democracy's strategic importance to security and stability puts political participation high on the human development agenda. But the links between democratic governance and social and economic development are not automatic. Too many democratic countries have failed to deliver for large segments of their populations. Deepening democracy can make governance truly responsive and accountable to the demands of ordinary people. This process requires the spread not only of democratic institutions but also of democratic politics. And in the interdependent world of the 21st century, democratic principles and practices must extend to international institutions and governance systems to address transnational issues - most notably, terrorism, globalization and environmental decay. Human Development Report 2002: . Examines the challenges for democracies young and old of broadening participation and strengthening accountability - or risking democratic reversals. . Calls for more democratic principles in global institutions and negotiations to prevent further fragmentation in the world. . Argues that democratic governance of security forces is the way to build capacity for peace. . Transcends the conventional wisdom of good governance to propose a framework that is not only efficient and effective bus also just, equitable and conducive to human development. . Surveys the main tools for measuring political and civil freedoms and their relationship to the Report's human development index (HDI). . Presents the first-ever country-by-country ratings on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.