Dr. Petersen with the Governor General, Sir Colville Young.

On Thursday, February 7, the small Central American/Caribbean country of Belize held elections to determine which party would become the governing party in that parliamentary political system.  Dr. John Petersen of Western's Political Science Department was in Belize and observed the election.  Although not widely reported in the US , this election was the latest in a string, unbroken since Belizean independence in 1981, of open and fair elections involving a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to the other.  In this election the former ruling party, the People's United Party (PUP), was replaced through a landslide vote by the previously opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).

As a parliamentary system in the British mold, the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, immediately called upon the leader of the UDP party, Dean Barrow, to form a new government. The transition of power took place within a day of the election.  Dr. Petersen was impressed by the level of citizen interest and enthusiasm connected with the election as well as the willingness of both sides to accept the outcome.  The evolution of Belizean democracy remains a work in progress but the successful conduct of this election is an encouraging sign for the future. 

Political Engagement Project
Dr. Ardrey is head of this project and many faculty from the department, Potter College and campus-wide are involved.

The Political Engagement Project is an initiative of the American Democracy Project. PEP in Action's mission is to establish a political engagement “culture” where administrators, students and faculty are self-conscious about their influence. Recent activities have included Constitution Week and the National Global Climate Change Teach-In.