The interaction between democracy and development: executive summary

Over the years, UNESCO has participated in many debates concerning the themes "democracy" and "development" but, until recently, one question had yet to be proved in depth, namely, the relationship between democracy and development. In order to come to grips with this issue, in 1998 UNESCO establish the International Panel on Democracy and Development (IPDD), chaired by Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali and made up of leading international figures. After discussing the conceptual framework and defining the key issues to be addressed, the Panel explored the nature of the link between democracy and development. It acknowledged that, while democracy and development had long been concepts largely foreign to each other, there is now widespread agreement that a close relationship exists between them. In particular, the Panel recognized that the sustainability of equitable development is closely bound up with democracy. It maintained that genuine democracy, characterized by the rule of law, respect for human rights and recognition of the intrinsic dignity of all human beings, cannot be maintained unless people enjoy a minimum standard of living, which in turn requires a minimum level of development. The Panel's recommendations are being considered with a view to their incorporation in UNESCO's programmes relating to democracy-building. I wish to emphasize the closeness that exists between the recommendations and the priorities of the Organization's programme, whether in respect of the primacy of the Organization's programme. whether in respect of the primacy given to basic education and the quality of its content, the promotion of cultural diversity.