By Kristen Sample Director, Democratic Governance, National Democratic Institute (NDI)

The expression “all politics is local,” meaning that a politician’s success hinges on his or her ability to understand and influence the issues of constituents, held true for generations. In today’s world, however, the increasingly globalized nature of corruption subverts local democratic politics and processes.

Gaborone, Botswana - The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and partners presented the Gaborone Declaration in Support of Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation today, after concluding an international summit gathered in this city from July 6 to 8, 2022. 

The summit was co-hosted by the Government of Botswana and NDI in partnership with Open Society Foundations - Africa, Kofi Annan Foundation, Katiba Institute, Afrobarometer, Tournons la Page, Africtivistes, African Network of Constitutional Lawyers, Presidential Precinct, and University of Botswana. 

According to new polling by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Ukrainians are deeply united in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukrainians are committed to their country’s democratic development, with a historic 94 percent of respondents saying that fully functioning democracy is important to them. Despite the full-scale invasion, respondents show unprecedented optimism about Ukraine’s future: 87 percent reported that they are optimistic about the future of the country. 

By Birgitta Ohlsson, Director Political Parties, National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Putin’s attack on Ukraine has done more to unite the world’s democracies than anything since the end of the Cold War. It’s impossible to imagine a stronger, more convincing and more important game-changing story in modern times about why democracy matters. If a brutal authoritarian regime in Russia attacking the young democracy of Ukraine doesn’t make the case for freedom … what does?

Washington, DC – The Government of Botswana and the National Democratic Institute will co-host an “International Summit on Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation in Africa,” in Gaborone, Botswana from July 6-8, 2022. The summit will build on an earlier Summit in Support of Constitutional Term Limits, held in October 2019 in Niamey, Niger Republic.