CDI's 2008 Political Party Development Course
CDI's 2008 Political Party Development Course (PPD) took place at the Australian National University in Canberra between 12-23 May. Participants in this year's course comprised 19 senior political party officials from Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, including two serving Members of Parliament.
The PPD course is designed to provide senior party officials from the Asia- Pacific region with the skills to strengthen their parties and party systems, thus contributing to improved governance and more stable democracy. The course provides participants with information on the Australian political system, including insights into how Australian political parties administer and organise themselves; an understanding of party theory and the factors that influence the development of party systems; a better understanding of parties and party systems in the region; and opportunities to develop contacts and networks with other parties in their own countries and throughout the region, including with the major Australian parties and political institutions.
One of CDI's annual flagship products, the course covers the nuts and bolts of party politics from the inside. Topics addressed included running effective campaigns; public opinion and polling; successful electoral strategies; media relations; policy development; membership recruitment; issue management; and political party funding.
The course consisted of a mixture of lectures, discussions, external site visits, and participatory forums. Networking was another major aspect of the course, both to enhance future relationships between Australia and regional countries at the party and governmental levels, and to establish new links between individuals. Participants also gained an understanding of the administration and workings of the Australian political system, with visits to the headquarters of the major Australian parties.
As in previous years, the course was convened by Mr Norm Kelly, a CDI Associate and former member of the West Australian Legislative Council.
Click on the links below for more detail on PPD:
