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.

In September 2002, Oswaldo Payá received NDI’s 15th Annual W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award for his courageous efforts in promoting peaceful democratic change in Cuba. NDI also created a documentary about the Varela Project, entitled “Dissident: Oswaldo Payá and the Varela Project,” which has premiered in several film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in May 2003.

Dissident

View the short film Dissident: Oswaldo Payá and the Varela Project.

To aid the development of political parties, the cornerstone of representative democracy, NDI has published a new document summarizing the common practices of a range of established and broadly democratic parties.

Madeleine K. Albright is a Principal of The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm. She is instrumental in developing relationships and securing agreements between The Albright Group’s national and international clients and key stakeholders worldwide. Dr. Albright uses her extensive experience in global affairs and renowned diplomatic skills to help domestic and international businesses and nongovernmental organizations foster strategic partnerships, address geopolitical risks, and manage crises.

Poll results consistently show that political parties in Latin America have low levels of credibility among citizens. According to regional Latinobarómetro poll results for 2010, almost six in ten Latin Americans think political parties are essential to democracy. However, less than one in three Latin Americans believe that parties are governing for the benefit of all. Because of the unique and indispensable role that political parties play in democracy, their lack of credibility in the region has contributed to a crisis of democratic governance and representation.