1. Regions and Departments ............................................................................................... 44

2. Municipalities ................................................................................................................. 44

3. Central Government Control........................................................................................... 45

4. Democracy at the Local Level ........................................................................................ 46

5. Indigenous Peoples and Local Government .................................................................... 48

6. Local Government in Coca growing Zones .................................................................... 49

E. The Civil Society Arena............................................................................................................... 50

1.

T

he Fabric of Civil Society: Diversity and Fragmentation.............................................. 50

2. The Basic Conditions for Civil Society:  Legal Framework and Finances...................... 51

3. NGOs and Civil Society.................................................................................................. 53

4. Critical Actors and Allies for Democracy....................................................................... 54

a. Human Rights Organizations................................................................................. 54

b. The Women's Movement: Grassroots and Professionals ...................................... 56

c. The Catholic Church and Democracy.................................................................... 57

d. Business, Labor, and Democracy .......................................................................... 58

F. The International Arena and Future Scenarios............................................................................. 60

CHAPTER V:  STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................... 62

A.  Strategic Filters............................................................................................................................ 62

1. Political Opportunity....................................................................................................... 62

2. U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities ......................................................................................... 63

3. Time and Resource Limitations ...................................................................................... 63

4. USAID's Prior Strategy and Existing Program............................................................... 64

5. Activities of Other Donors .............................................................................................. 64

B.  General Recommendations on Strategy and Tactics .................................................................... 65

C. Issue Specific Recommendations and Priorities .......................................................................... 66

1. Justice and Human Rights ............................................................................................... 66

2. Civil and Political Society............................................................................................... 68

3. The Legislature ............................................................................................................... 70

4. Mass Media..................................................................................................................... 71

5. Decentralization and Local Government......................................................................... 72

D. Summary of Recommendations and Priorities ............................................................................. 74

APENDIX A: PERSONS INTERVIEWED.......................................................................................... 76

BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................................... 79

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