While none of you (as far as I know) has actually applied for the internship in my office, a number of you expressed interest in this general line of work. You might like to know that there is a site called eurobrussels.com which is the key place for advertising jobs in European affairs generally. I've also advertised this particular position on ( Read more... )

1. Is this legal? Due to the large number of applications we are receiving and the particular nature of the position, please only apply if you hold a degree from any of the following institutions:
   • Oxford University
   • Cambridge University
   • University of Edinburgh
   • London School of Economics
     Although I clearly am qualified on that basis alone, I'm not sure I ( Read more... )

I've mentioned this before, but it probably bears mentioning again: if you are interested in international politics, one of the best possible ways of dipping your toe in the water is to get a place on an election observation mission. A colleague has just alerted me to an upcoming training course run by Peaceworkers UK in London on August 5th for ( Read more... )

I've just seen the OSCE assessment report for the elections in Azerbaijan and it seems they want to deploy 500 short term observers, plus another couple of dozen long-term ones. Details of how to apply hereReally, anyone who is over the age of about 21 and has an interest in politics should consider applying. Obviously in this case some knowledge ( Read more... )

Both the Kyrgyz and the Albanian elections are in early July, so there may be more openings for international election observers via the OSCE than usual. I posted details for how to apply here.

Republished here from the original report because I suspect nobody will ever see them otherwise. Most are sensible enough and behind the cut; the two I've left are issues where the US is particularly deficient in terms of democratic practice IMHO.

( recommendations )

I've mentioned this a couple of times before, but the OSCE/ODIHR report on the November elections in the US has now been published (PDF, dated 31 March). I will read it and report back.

There are some interesting elections coming up before the summer, all of which will presumably have OSCE election observation missions deployed to them, which will in turn need people from OSCE participating states (Europe, former Soviet Union, US and Canada) to do the observing.

Croatia: holds local elections in May some time. Nothing too ( Read more... )

Russia calls on OSCE to send mission to Northern Ireland. Of course the OSCE has already had missions in Northern Ireland, notably for election monitoring, so not such a stupid idea. If Western countries can demonstrate to Russia that they are prepared to accept OSCE monitoring as well, I think it strengthens the organisation and increases the ( Read more... )

I noted last week that the international observers' report on the US elections has mysteriously not yet been published. The Secretariat in Warsaw have just informed me that "The report has been delayed somewhat, due to a high number of election observations during the last few months. I expect the report to be out soon." I'm inclined to take that ( Read more... )