Democracy Dialogue

NDI President Kenneth Wollack (center), with Lorne Craner (left), the president of the International Republican Institute, and Ambassador Robert Neumann at a panel discussion.

Support for democracy has been a priority of U.S. foreign policy since the earliest days of the republic, and its advantages over other forms of government have come to be accepted globally. But there are many manifestations of democratic governance – how it is achieved and how it delivers for its citizens – that are the subject of continuing debate. To help illuminate this debate, NDI has collected commentary from its own experts and others along with some of the key documents upon which democracy programs are based.

Our Perspectives

Commentary from NDI Board members and staff on democracy promotion generally and on specific NDI programs. | Read more »

News and Views

Commentary from experts on the directions and challenges of democracy promotion programs. | Read more »

Key Documents

A library of the basic documents upon which democracy programs are based. | Read more »

New Additions

OUR PERSPECTIVES

Albright Applauds Burma Reforms

Voice of America

In her first trip to Rangoon since 1995, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, NDI chairman, was interviewed by Voice of America about her visit and Burma's democratic reforms, saying that Burma was "very much on the right road."

Read the full transcript and watch the interview here»

06/04/2013

A Guide to the Pakistani Taliban’s ‘reign of terror’ ahead of elections

Foreign Policy

Ahead of Pakistan’s May 11 polls, unrelenting violence has delayed elections in several districts and resulted in over 100 casualties. Terrorists continue targeting politicians and candidates, also indiscriminately killing civilians and supporters.

"‘It is pretty clear that this is the most violent election I have witnessed in 23 years’ of election monitoring in Pakistan, Peter Manikas of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs told the Washington Post. ‘It's a different type of violence in trying to disrupt the election as a whole. It makes everything unsafe.’"

05/09/2013

NEWS AND VIEWS

A Judicial Travesty in Egypt

The New York Times

The recent politically driven conviction of 43 employees of foreign nonprofit groups for receiving illegal funds under a deeply flawed Mubarak-era law "sends a chilling message to Egyptians who want to work for democratic change.” President Morsi has recognized that the law under which they were convicted is flawed, but his proposed substitute does not meet international human right standards. Such acts by the Egyptian government can have lasting, irreversible effects.

“Egypt’s stability and its ability to build durable democratic institutions, establish a sound economy, respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens and uphold the peace treaty with Israel are hugely important. The United States needs to find a more effective way of getting that message across.”

06/15/2013

Egypt's NGOs Matter

Foreign Policy

In the wake of the June 4 sentencing of 43 NGO workers in Egypt and President Morsi’s draft law that would stifle Egyptian civil society, many are questioning U.S. support for “civil-society-led demcoracy efforts.” But civil society is essential to social progress, U.S. diplomacy and Egypt’s democratic transition.

“The fate of Egypt's beleaguered civil society and the international groups that work within it should remain a central U.S. concern in shaping its policy toward Egypt -- under the Morsi government or any other.”

“The U.S. and other international efforts already undertaken have bolstered the local NGOs campaigning for better laws and respect for associational freedom. Such efforts stalled a draft law proposed by former President Hosni Mubarak in 2010, and torpedoed the Shura Council's almost identical proposal earlier this year. The intensive public-relations campaign by Morsi's staff over this issue reveals his sensitivity to international criticism. This is no time to let up the pressure -- there is simply too much at stake.”

06/05/2013

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.