Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences (BGSS)

Dissertation Title (preliminary)

International Electoral Assistance and the Credibility of Elections

Abstract

International actors provide substantial technical and financial support to transitional and authoritarian elections. From Afghanistan to Sudan, they procure ballot boxes, train poling staff and advise on electoral systems design. A central aim of electoral assistance is to enhance the technical quality of elections in order to foster credible elections. Despite its relevance, electoral assistance has not received much scholarly attention. Particularly, we lack understanding how electoral assistance interacts with central contextual factors such as regime type.

Therefore, it seems worthwhile to further investigate the relationship between electoral assistance and election credibility. How do effects of international electoral assistance on election credibility vary in different political contexts? A mixed methods approach will be applied to investigate this research question including case studies from the MENA region (Sudan, Jordan and Libya).

Research Interests

Transformation of governance in developing countries, elections and accountability in areas of limited statehood, MENA Region, Neopatrimonialism, UN

Professional and International Experience

1/2013

Election observer in Jordan (NDI)

8/2011 - 4/2012

Consultant on Youth Political Participation (UNDP Regional Center Cairo/ Bureau for Development Policy New York)

3-6/2011

Parliamentary Development Specialist (UNDP Sudan)

2-12/2010

Elections Advisor (UNDP Sudan)

2002-2009

Member of German National Parliament (Bundestag)

Education

3/2013           

Impact Evaluation Short Course, Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK)

2011-2013 (expected)

M.A.  “Research Training in Social Sciences”, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany)

2009-2011

Master of Science in “Gender and Peace”, Ahfad University for Women (Sudan)

2003-2008

Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences, FernUniversität Hagen (Germany)

Conference presentations

3/2013           

41^st ECPR Joint Sessions of Workshops, Mainz, Topic: International Support to Authoritarian Elections

Publications

Lührmann, Anna (2013): Jordan's Elections: Transparent but not Democratic. Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Palestine & Jordan. http://www.ps.boell.org/web/119-790.html

Lührmann, Anna (2013): Enhancing Youth Political Participation throughout the Electoral Cycle – A Good Practice Guide. UNDP. http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/democratic-governance/electoral_systemsandprocesses/enhancing-youth-political-participation-throughout-the-electoral/

Language Skills

• German (monther tongue)
• English (Fluency oral and written)
• French (Fair)
• Arabic (Basic)