Democracy is important.

By examining the way in which gender interacts with democratic processes and debates, The Democracy Project seeks to collapse areas that are currently considered ‘women’s issues’ into broader societal discourse and research, and show that a healthy, functioning democracy requires that we re-negotiate the way in which the boundaries between gender and society are drawn. 

Analysis and Debate

The Democracy Project selects bi-monthly topics which are then used as starting points for research into gender and democratic processes.  The newsletters produced at the end of each research period provide explorations of the topic at hand along with in-depth and up-to date resources, interviews, and research.  Topics which will be covered over the next year at The Democracy Project include parental leave, the impact of violence on political participation, gender and civil society, and gender and peace processes.  You can sign up to receive the newsletter on this website, as well as download previous newsletters. 

Current Research Theme at The Democracy Project:
Violence against women and democratic participation

There has been a lot of attention given lately to the high rates of violence against women in Australia, however the implications this violence has for women's democratic and societal participation is a largely unexplored issue.  Over the next two months, The Democracy Project will be researching this relationship, as well as the way the phenomenon of violence against women is being addressed both in Australia and overseas. 

News Compilation

A central element of The Democracy Project is a media compilation and commentary service. News from a variety of sources, both Australian and international, will be monitored for items that have repercussions for democracy, particularly as it intersects with gender issues. The Democracy Project will frame its media monitoring, analysis and debate around five key thematic areas: civil and political rights; social rights; economic rights; international peace and security; and contemporary debates. We know that this may not be a comprehensive or ideal breakdown of issues, but we had to draw the line somewhere.  While we do include a broad range of issues in the media monitoring, we also strive to have it reflect the research on which The Democracy Project is currently focussing.   

Research

The Democracy Project provides brief histories of the debates surrounding the interactions between democracy and gender, and will enable and critique new research into these issues. We are also compiling lists of key resources, web-links and relevant legal instruments for each theme.  The Democracy Project is not just about synthesising what is already out there, it’s about facilitating analysis and debate at grassroots level. To this end, we will be publishing a monthly e-newsletter, which will provide an overview of some of the month’s hot topics and a forum for discussion. We invite letters of up to 1000 words for inclusion in the e-newsletter and on the website.

The Democracy Project in Eureka Street

Follow this link to read an article written on modern feminism and debate 'On Feminism and Toffee' by Ruby Murray, one of the Democracy Project's co-founders, for Eureka Street: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=9035 

For an article on feminist goals, 'What Real Feminists Want', see:  http://eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=16667

For an article on Australian ANZAC Day nationalism and football, 'The False Nationalism of Anzac Day Football', see: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=13175

The Democracy Project in New Matilda

Follow this link to read an article by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf on sexual violence in conflicts, and Australia's slow movement to address the issue effectively,  published by New Matilda on June 19, the first anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1820 on sexual violence in conflicts:  http://newmatilda.com/2009/06/19/australia-slow-act-sexual-violence

Follow this link to read Ruby Murray's article 'Australia's Abortion Gag,' published by New Matilda on January 27: http://newmatilda.com/2009/01/27/australias-abortion-gag

The Democracy Project and Women, Peace and Security

Follow this link to read a paper on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, written by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf for the International Women's Development Agency: http://www.iwda.org.au/au/2009/02/10/unscr1325-iwda-position-paper/   

Contact Us

The Democracy Project was founded, developed, and is maintained, by Ruby Murray and Jasmine-Kim Westendorf. Please feel free to contact us with your comments or enquiries via email at info[AT]the-democracy-project.org If you would like to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, please sign up using the form available on the Newsletters page.