Democracy (General) | DemocracyWorks: A Blog of the National Democratic Institute

The good news about Ukraine – and why it deserves our support.

An NDI staff member votes in the March 31, 2019, presidential election, while accompanying international election observers as they observed opening, voting, counting, and tabulation processes in Kyiv and 13 other regions across the country.

Ukraine is all over the news these days, albeit not in a good way. That is unfortunate. The country deserves much more – and favorable – support for its democratic progress and remarkable resilience in the face of economic hardship and unrelenting Russian aggression. Five years after the Revolution of Dignity ushered in a new democratic moment in 2014, Ukraine’s people in fact are as unified as ever in their aspirations for a more democratic, peaceful and corruption-free society.

Celebrate the promise and resilience of democracy!

Parliamentary fellows in Albania share tips on identifying credible sources of information at a workshop at NDI’s country office.

Today marks International Democracy Day 2019.

From the world’s oldest to youngest democracies, this is a day to celebrate the promise and resilience of democracy around the world. Despite real headwinds that have dominated the headlines, political participation in fact is up, reflecting the continued potency of the democratic idea. From Managua to Moscow, Algiers to Istanbul, and Khartoum to Hong Kong, people of all races, religions, cultures, and backgrounds are demanding their voices be heard, their rights and dignity be protected, and that justice prevail.

How will 2019 fit into the story of Tunisia's democratic development?

Tunisians go to the polls on Sunday for the second democratic presidential election in the country’s modern history. What will they be thinking about as they cast their ballots? Jobs? Human rights? Pollution? How will these and other priorities reshape the political landscape in the months and years to come, as the country navigates the choppy waters of economic stagnation and more stringent popular demands for elected leaders to deliver? And how do those leaders—from the president all the way down—actually realize the promises they make during election season?

The answers to these questions are relevant not just to the people of Tunisia—the birthplace of the Arab Spring—but for small-‘d’ democrats across the region who look to the country for hope and guidance. In the newest episode of the DemWorks podcast, Leo Spaans, our country director in Tunisia, and Les Campbell, NDI regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, try to provide some answers.

How does increased youth participation in politics improve a society?

In Jordan, NDI is using an innovative program to help young people use democratic methods and community action to become invested in their nation’s future. Through “Ana Usharek” (“I Participate”), university students throughout the country are learning about democratic values and political systems, human rights, non-violent dispute resolution, and civic responsibility.

Why is equality essential to a successful democracy?

Olena Yena reflects upon Ukraine’s remarkable transformation in the realm of women's empowerment.

DemWorks continues to celebrate International Youth Day by exploring the importance of gender equality in democracy. In episode 6, Laura Jewett, NDI’s regional director for Eurasia speaks with Olena Yena, who directs the Women Lead program in NDI’s Ukraine office. Olena spearheads NDI initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality, enhancing women's political participation, and combating gender stereotypes and discrimination.

Young Women. Fresh Voices. The Future of Democracy.

Tarina Ahuja is a high school senior, a political activist and co-founder of the nonprofit Young Khalsa Girls.

The DemWorks Podcast and Video series will extend International Youth Day (August 12) to celebrate and amplify the political engagement of young women and young men throughout the month of August. In this episode, Molly Middlehurst, Senior Program Officer on the Gender, Women and Democracy team at NDI, speaks to the inspirational Tarina Ahuja.

How can political campaigns guard against hackers in the digital age?

The Cybersecurity Playbook has been been translated into multiple languages, including Moldovan.

Throughout the month of July the DemWorks Podcast and Video series has been exploring the effect of digital technology on democracy. In this episode we focus on the importance of cybersecurity and the lasting effect weak cybersecurity practices have on political campaigns.

What is the civic responsibility of social media platforms to combat disinformation in Ukraine?

Election Workers at a Ukrainian Polling Station.

In this episode of the DemWorks podcast, Michelle Brown, senior advisor for elections at NDI talks to NDI analyst Calvin Garner about Ukraine’s recent parliamentary elections. They discuss how advances in digital communications impact pivotal elections.

How can democracies prepare for the impact of technological change?

NDI president, Derek Mitchell, gives his thoughts on how to defend democracy at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2019.

NDI president, Derek Mitchell, gave his thoughts on how to defend democracy at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2019. He talks about the challenges facing democracy, how we can prepare for the impact of technology, and why democracy is succeeding.

What’s it like to be a journalist on the front lines of the battle against disinformation in the Philippines?

Derek Mitchell was joined by NDI partner Maria Ressa at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit to discuss topics such as the Design 4 Democracy Coalition.

In this episode of DemWorks, NDI president Derek Mitchell is joined by Maria Ressa to discuss both the opportunities and challenges that technology presents for democracy, the threat of disinformation and the ways that authoritarians are using technology for nefarious purposes.

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