Dialogue Centres are inclusive of all economic sectors, of every size of business from micro to multinational, of employees as well as employers. In countries in transition they will often include civil society in activities: all stakeholders in the economy. Dialogue Centres have no agendas so do not advocate. All Centres work to facilitate a deeper understanding of issues, with the aim of contributing better informed decision-making in legislation and regulation for the public benefit and not special interests. The understanding is created by programmes and activities of practical engagement and involvement between business and
Parliamentary practitioners. The approach is based on the well tested adage “Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand.” All business and parliamentary participants undertake to abide by the Enterprise and Parliamentary Dialogue International (EPDI) Code of Principles (see below) which underpins all activities. The learning experiences work because they are bespoke and tailored to Members of Parliament or committee needs and level of knowledge.
A Member can have considerable experience of business, but may want to build on this knowledge or look at a completely different business sector. The process is managed to ensure a balanced learning
experience, reflecting parliamentary research departments. Like them our credibility relies on the quality and authenticity of outputs. Both Dialogue Centres and research departments need to produce robust, reliable, balanced and user- friendly information for Members.
Coping with change The Inter-Parliamentary Union in a recent report pointed out the paradox that democracy, both as an ideal and as a set of political institutions and practices, has either triumphed in most countries or is the aspiration of many of their citizens; but at the same time there has been widespread
disillusionment with the results of democracy in practice that is shared by citizens of the “old”
democracies as much as by those of the emerging ones. Today this can be acute when democracies are called on to grapple with forces that often seem beyond their control, affecting their security, their economies and the livelihoods and well-being of their citizens. Parliaments today have a key role in addressing this paradox, carrying all the expectations that
democracy will be truly responsive to people’s needs. For an individual Member in an established Parliament, this is challenging. It is exceptionally difficult for Members of Parliaments in countries in transition, where not only economies but also society and institutions themselves are undergoing change. Frequently in these countries there are not the