Final Week
Internships are great for several reasons: they forge character, look good on a resume, and sometimes even make you learn something. But more often than not, they only do just that—nothing more, nothing less. My internship at International IDEA, however, has done just that, but also so much more. From working on a report on constitutional jurisprudence in countries within ECOWAS, I learned an incredible amount of information about different judicial and political systems. Researching eligibility requirements for presidents and legislators enabled me to discover how seemingly basic constitutional provisions actually reflect a country’s particular cultures and values.
Analyzing the relationship between transitional justice and constitutional-making processes taught me the importance of constitutional entrenchment as safeguards against political meddling. Working with the Gambian Constitutional Review Commission reinforced my belief that law is the only commodity of those who have none. And last but not least, witnessing an actual constitution-building process made me even more aware of the immensity of the mission International IDEA has been pursuing. Throughout the past ten weeks, I further discovered the intricate process leading to decision-making, the compelling power of principles, the desirable primacy of values, and the inexorable necessity of compromises.
Referring to the dialogue between civilizations and cultures, a French writer once said, “the bridge changes the bank." In fact, International IDEA’s constitution-building team has been actively participating in the conception and the construction of these bridges. As such, I would like to sincerely thank Professor Warren along with all the donors who made this incredible opportunity possible. I would also like to truly thank International IDEA’s CBP team for welcoming me and for allowing me to take part in its global mission.
Several biking mishaps, a World Cup victory, and countless bitterballens later, I am preparing to leave The Hague to go home before flying out to the Middle East. From the ancient Roman ruins of Baalbek to the stunning colors of Petra and Wadi Rum, this trip promises to top off what has already been an amazing summer. While the idea of a vacation is never unpleasant, I can honestly say that I would not have minded staying and working in The Hague for a while longer. In fact, I can even go as far as saying that I would have eaten a few more bitterballens with pleasure if it meant staying in the Netherlands. Ten weeks, a constitutional review process, and a few humbling experiences later, I’ve even made my peace with Dutch cuisine.