National Democratic Institute | NDI

image of a compass

Our Perspectives

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


06/26/2009	Too Little, Too Late Foreign Policy Pat Merloe, NDI’s director for electoral programs, wrote that Iran’s election system has major gaps that cause it to fall short of even minimum standards, in an article published on ForeignPolicy.com. Read More
06/18/2009	Laura Jewett's Remarks on Kyrgyzstan's July 23 Presidential Election U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Laura Jewett, NDI’s regional director for Eurasia, remarked on Kyrgyzstan’s July 23 presidential election before the U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Read More
06/04/2009	Robert Benjamin Addresses Albanian Elections U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Robert Benjamin, NDI’s Central and Eastern Europe regional director, addressed the approaching Albanian parliamentary elections and the country's democratic transition as part of a briefing for the U.S. Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Read More
06/02/2009	Obama's Muslim Speech International Herald Tribute With President Barack Obama set to address a predominately Muslim audience in Egypt, NDI chairman Madeleine K. Albright highlights the significance of the speech and advises the president on the issues to tackle in an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune.<.p> Read More
05/05/2009	Don't Forget About Foreign Aid Wall Street Journal In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, NDI chairman Madeleine K. Albright underscores the importance of international development to U.S. foreign policy. Read More
04/07/2009	Obama Pressures Sudanese President on Darfur WBEZ Susan Page, NDI regional director for Southern and East Africa programs, speaks with Chicago Public Radio about the risks and challenges facing world policy makers in Sudan. Read More
02/21/2009	Quieter Approach to Spreading Democracy Abroad New York Times NDI President Kenneth Wollack and others speak to The New York Times about the evolving role of democracy support in United States foreign policy under the new administration. Read More
01/29/2009	Promoting Democracy and Human Rights Worldwide America.gov In a web chat on America.gov, NDI President Kenneth Wollack and IRI President Lorne Craner talk elaborate on the experiences of the institutes and new directions being taken in democracy assistance. Read More
12/22/2008	Legislative Oversight and Budgeting Legislative Oversight and Budgeting As contributing authors of a new book, Robert Nakamura, NDI resident country director in Nigeria, and John Johnson, NDI director for governance programs, explore oversight and budgeting challenges facing legislatures around the world. Read More
11/14/2008	The Future of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Senate Briefing At a recent briefing on Capitol Hill, Les Campell, NDI regional director for Middle East and North Africa programs, discussed the Institute’s productive working relationship with MEPI, citing numerous programs in Morocco, Kuwait and Egypt that were made possible with MEPI funds. Campbell described the unique advantage to having MEPI – a body that deals with political development and democracy, education, women’s issues and economic development – situated within the State Department’s Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs and urged its continuation in the next administration. The briefing was sponsored by the Project on Middle East Democracy. Read More