Strengthening Legislatures: Some Lessons from the Pacific Region

Abstract

There is universal agreement among development stakeholders that parliaments play a crucial role in enhancing good governance, economic growth, and development as well as the general quality of democracy. It follows from this fact that several international organizations (IOs) have embarked in activities that seek to strengthen legislative capacity. However, we note that there is a lack of consensus—among IOs and in key literature—on the right approach to strengthen parliaments. Consequently, IOs have been offering varying legislative‐strengthening exercises that have inevitably produced significantly different and, at times, disappointing outcomes. Using a multicase study design that includes five Pacific countries, we show that to attain positive and significant outcomes, legislative capacity‐building initiatives need to be country specific and informed by local needs assessment. We further reassert that no amount of legislative capacity‐building effort can enhance parliamentary performance in the absence of local political will.Related Articles Nohlen, Dieter. 2009. “.” Politics & Policy 37 (): 3‐30. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2008.00159.x/abstract Legler, Thomas F. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 848‐870. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00382.x/abstract Pelizzo, Riccardo. 2008. “.” Politics & Policy 36 (): 474‐498. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2008.00117.x/abstract Related Media . 2011. http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html