BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Sabre//Sabre VObject 4.5.8//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Zurich X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/Zurich TZURL:http://tzurl.org/zoneinfo/Europe/Zurich BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:19810329T020000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=3;BYDAY=-1SU END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:19961027T030000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=10;BYDAY=-1SU END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:news1801@dg.philhist.unibas.ch DTSTAMP;TZID=Europe/Zurich:20230424T135852 DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Zurich:20230504T160000 SUMMARY:The acceptance and non-acceptance of electoral results: a historica l view DESCRIPTION:All too frequently\, states grapple with situations in which el ectoral contestants or their supporters reject the outcome of a national e lection\, including by making sweeping\, unsupported allegations of fraud. Over time\, such behaviour erodes trust and deepens polarization\, tearin g into the fabric of democracies.\\r\\nAnd yet: to the historian and the p olitical scientist alike\, disputes over electoral processes – ranging f rom fierce but peaceful debate over the design of a process\, to conflict and violence arising from its outcomes – are a boon. Firstly\, they prov ide insight into prevalent notions of what constitutes a “proper” or “correct” electoral process. In other words\, they reveal the criteria by which a polity considers whether a process bestows legitimacy on the c hosen representatives or office holders. Secondly\, disputes and conflict can be a creative force\, an impetus for change and reform\, typically as a way to overcome a crisis and prevent future conflict. By taking the long view of electoral disputes\, we can see that notions of legitimacy\, and the normative framework for election/selection processes\, are not fixed\, but rather vary from context to context. Moreover\, even within the same society\, standards evolve\, often in response to disputed outcomes. Elect oral disputes are thus a lens to analyze political institutions\, as well as a door to policy and reform options. Drawing on a range of historical e xamples – including the selection of office holders in Athens\, the “b irthplace” of democracy\; of Popes in the Middle Ages\; and of the heads of state in contemporary Gambia – but also on his experience as United Nations electoral expert in post-conflict settings (Afghanistan\, Libya\, Nepal\, and others)\, Maarten Halff will argue – speaking in a personal capacity – that election disputes are a fruitful subject of study and re search. He will suggest elements of a comparative approach\, to stimulate an interdisciplinary discussion among participants. The event aims to be o f interest to students of history\, social anthropology\, political scienc e\, and peace and conflict studies alike\, as well as to the broader inter ested public\\r\\n\\r\\nMaarten Halff is Visiting Fellow of the Basel Gra duate School of History (April-May 2023). Senior Political Affairs Officer \, Electoral Assistance Division\, United Nations (on special leave)\\r\\n \\r\\nFree admission\, no registration needed. X-ALT-DESC:

All too frequently\, states grapple with situations in which electoral contestants or their supporters reject the outcome of a national election\, including by making sweeping\, unsupported allegations of frau d. Over time\, such behaviour erodes trust and deepens polarization\, tear ing into the fabric of democracies.

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And yet: to the historian and the political scientist alike\, disputes over electoral processes – rang ing from fierce but peaceful debate over the design of a process\, to conf lict and violence arising from its outcomes – are a boon. Firstly\, they provide insight into prevalent notions of what constitutes a “proper” or “correct” electoral process. In other words\, they reveal the crit eria by which a polity considers whether a process bestows legitimacy on t he chosen representatives or office holders. Secondly\, disputes and confl ict can be a creative force\, an impetus for change and reform\, typically as a way to overcome a crisis and prevent future conflict. By taking the long view of electoral disputes\, we can see that notions of legitimacy\, and the normative framework for election/selection processes\, are not fix ed\, but rather vary from context to context. Moreover\, even within the s ame society\, standards evolve\, often in response to disputed outcomes. E lectoral disputes are thus a lens to analyze political institutions\, as w ell as a door to policy and reform options. Drawing on a range of historic al examples – including the selection of office holders in Athens\, the “birthplace” of democracy\; of Popes in the Middle Ages\; and of the h eads of state in contemporary Gambia – but also on his experience as Uni ted Nations electoral expert in post-conflict settings (Afghanistan\, Liby a\, Nepal\, and others)\, Maarten Halff will argue – speaking in a perso nal capacity – that election disputes are a fruitful subject of study an d research. He will suggest elements of a comparative approach\, to stimul ate an interdisciplinary discussion among participants. The event aims to be of interest to students of history\, social anthropology\, political sc ience\, and peace and conflict studies alike\, as well as to the broader i nterested public

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Maarten Halff is \;Visiting Fellow of t he Basel Graduate School of History (April-May 2023). Senior Political Aff airs Officer\, Electoral Assistance Division\, United Nations (on special leave)

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Free admission\, no registration needed.

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