Cambodian Commune Councils - First Steps

Our partners’ and our own impression of the progress made since 2002 is positive. Yet, it seems difficult to understand the local dimensions of this political reform and to convey it to newcomers. I feel that this report achieves much of these aims. It is empirical without being representative or attempting to be so. It shows that there are successes and less satisfactory experiences. It provides indicative quotes from 27 in depth interviews, 68 questionnaires and 271 surveys. First steps towards communal self-administration seem to have been taken with some skill, much motivation and even higher expectations. May the second mandate commune councilors enjoy as much enthusiasm and support as the first one.

With this report the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung begins a series of “occasional papers”. This is done with a view to share some output of our partners’ and our work. I hope that this first volume of the series will be appreciated and useful. Thanks and appreciation is highly deserved by one of our partners, the Khmer Institute of Democracy (KID), its Executive Director Nay Dina and her staff. They have excelled in their work at the commune level for many years. From this experience a very interesting report has emanated. I highly recommend it to all those who wish to learn more about the Cambodian commune councils at the end of their first mandate.

Wolfgang Meyer, Country Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Cambodia