National Democratic Institute | NDI

image of a compass

News and Views

Commentary from experts on the directions and challenges of democracy assistance programs.


November 7, 2011	Oswaldo Payá invited to European Parliament Human Rights Conference (in Spanish) Cuba Encuentro Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, the 2002 recipient of NDI’s W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award and the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was recently invited to the High-Level Human Rights conference in Brussels by European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek. In 1997, Payá founded the Varela Project, which uses nonviolent means to promote human rights. He is also coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (Movimiento Cristiano de Liberación). Read the English translation of the article» Read More
November 2, 2011	USAID is foreign policy's best dollar value Politico NDI's first president, J. Brian Atwood, joins Henrietta Holsman Fore, M. Peter McPherson and Andrew Natsios in this editorial about the importance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to U.S. foreign relations. The op-ed contributors write that USAID is currently facing budget cuts that "could have a devastating effect on the agency’s ability to respond to crises and handle day-to-day operations, curtailing efforts begun under the Bush and Obama administrations to strengthen its expertise and effectiveness. This is a dangerous proposition with serious implications for our national and economic security." Read More
October 24, 2011	Tunisia again points the way for Arab democracy The Washington Post The Washington Post's editorial board writes that Sunday's elections in Tunisia were "one of the best in the history of the Arab Middle East." The country's leading Islamist party, the Ennahdha party, claimed victory, and the board writes that this could set the standard for upcoming elections is other part of the Middle East. "... The rise of Islamist parties is inevitable in a democratic Middle East; what is crucial is that these parties forswear violence and accept the rules of democracy and human rights. So far Tunisia’s largest Islamic movement has done that. If its success is accepted by secular Tunisians and by Western democracies, its moderate model should get a boost in Egypt and Libya." Read More
October 16, 2011	How to save the innovative Millennium Challenge Corp. aid agency The Washington Post Raj Kumar, president of global development community Devex and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and John Hewko, general secretary/chief executive of Rotary International and former vice president for operations at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), write that of all U.S. agencies doling out foreign aid, it's the MCC that should be most concerned about losing funding. The MCC was formed under President George W. Bush in 2004 as a U.S. agency that grants money and assistance for specific projects in countries only after they meet key benchmarks and indicators. Kumar and Hewko write that, despite the MCC being a success in the field, it is at risk of takeover. "So here’s a way to give the MCC concept a long-term lease on life: Take the agency out of the U.S. government and transform it into a multilateral agency, an international organization with multiple countries as shareholders." Read More
October 1, 2011	A break in Burma’s dam? The Washington Post In the Southeast Asian nation of Burma, a country with a history of corruption in it's military junta and with suppressing nonviolent acts, there are encouraging signs that things are changing. This editorial in The Washington Post writes that, since Burmese rulers announced a new era six months ago, promises of reforms have been made and small steps forward have been taken. Even so, the editorial writes that the U.S. should encourage more substantive reform from Burmese leaders before making policy changes. Read More
September 26, 2011	Just a small step: Women’s right to vote in Saudi Arabia The Washington Post The Washington Post editorial board writes that it is "pleasantly surprised" by Saudi Arabia's decision to expand political rights for women. In 2015, Saudi Arabia's current laws will change to allow women the right to vote and run in municipal council elections. It's a small step, the board writes, but Saudi women's rights activists are pleased. The editorial board indicates that there is a danger this new initiative is meant to defuse pressure for more extensive reforms. The board also indicates that, while the Obama administration has publicly praised King Abdullah's announcement, it should be telling him to do more. Read More
September 26, 2011	Saudi Arabia and Its Women The New York Times An editorial appearing in The New York Times calls King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's decision to expand political rights for women "a first step toward moving his country into the modern world but not nearly enough." The editorial goes on to discuss Saudi Arabia's king and laws, saying, "What possible future can Saudi Arabia have when half the population is not allowed to participate fully in the economy or civic life?" Read More
September 18, 2011	McManus: Technology that protects protesters Los Angeles Times Congress is preparing to make federal spending cuts, including cuts in foreign aid. According to author Doyle McManus, Congress should avoid cutting money from the State Department's Internet freedom program, which is increasingly geared toward encryption and "anonymization" software meant to protect democracy activists worldwide. NDI partner MobileActive.org is among those receiving grant money from the State Department. The money helped create In the Clear, a phone application that includes buttons to delete sensitive information and send out panic warnings via text when a human rights activist is captured. Read More
September 13, 2011	Building a Free Libya Washington Post The Libyan ambassador to the U.S., Ali Suleiman Aujali, writes in the Washington Post about his government's plans for the future of Libya, and the nature of the transition. "Some in the international community question the NTC and what it stands for. The answer lies in our name. We are a “transitional” government responsible for steering the nation from an intense conflict with Gaddafi regime forces, now approaching its end, to the establishment of a democratic government. While leading pro-democracy forces on the battlefield and planning to stabilize those areas where fighting continues, we have worked to meet civilians’ basic needs and created an interim representative body. We are committed to establishing a stable Libya, where all citizens, regardless of background, gender, affiliation or faith can return to their daily lives, be free and have a voice in civic affairs." Read More
September 12, 2011	Somalia’s Worsening Famine New York Times This New York Times editorial highlights the importance of good governance in avoiding future famines in the Horn of Africa, especially in Somalia. The current weakness of the government is making it much harder to deliver food aid safely and efficiently, and also makes it more likely that the structural problems exacerbating the famine stay in place. While the immediate need to distribute food is still of utmost importance, doing so while neglecting governance, corruption and conflict will make future crises more likely. Read More