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

Increasing Youth Political Inclusion through Debate

Podcast Participants; Given Kapolyo, Rafka Noufal, Selina Dicusar.

To celebrate International Youth Day 2020 Rachel Mims, Senior Program Officer for Youth Political Participation at NDI, is joined by three young leaders from Zambia, Lebanon, and Moldova. They discuss competitive youth debate as an opportunity to build political skills, actively contribute to solving social problems, and create greater space for youth inclusion in public life. For more information please go to https://www.ndi.org/youth-leading-debate

A Conversation With LGBTI Activists on Community-Building

Rainbow Rights Paralegal Training

Navigating challenging and complex civic spaces is nothing new for local organizations working to advance the rights and inclusion of LGBTI communities. Join NDI Senior Program Officer for Citizen Participation for a conversation with three partners from across the globe working to sustain their advocacy for equality and inclusion, while tackling some of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Derek Mitchell & Secretary Madeleine Albright on her past and democracy's future

NDI Board Chairman Secretary Madeleine Albright

NDI President Derek Mitchell and NDI Board Chairman Secretary Madeleine Albright talk about her new book Hell and Other Destinations, and her experiences as Secretary of State. She reflects on U.S. foreign policy, democratic trends, and her hopes for the future.

This podcast was recorded May 27, 2020, prior to demonstrations in support of racial equality across the United States.

Demworks: Pat Merloe and Julia Brothers on Elections During COVID

Many countries with scheduled elections this year face a difficult choice in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: how to balance public health considerations with holding a free and fair election. Learn more from NDI Senior Associate and Director of Electoral Programs Pat Merloe and Program Director Julia Brothers as they talk about democratic back-sliding during this crisis, electoral integrity, and ways civil society organizations can still make a difference.

Governance is Key During COVID-19? (w/ Kristen Sample)

World map of Coronavirus (Covid-19)

As much as COVID-19 is a health and economic crisis, at its core, it is also a governance crisis.

NDI President Derek Mitchell and new Director of Democratic Governance Kristen Sample delve into ways governments and the international community have risen (or not) to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Democracy Strengthening in Fragile States Affected by Pandemics

Credit: Ibrahim Naji

In fragile states, democracy needs, even more, strengthening in times of pandemics as citizens and institutions are exposed to increased vulnerabilities. In some cases incipient dialogue and reconciliation networks may break down as social groups turn inward as a self-protection reflex, cultural barriers might exclude women and other marginalized groups from receiving healthcare, and armed groups might exploit the situation to increase their influence.

Opening Door to Politics for Next Generation of Leaders in Jordan

Youth in Jordan holding Ana Usharek books.

In Jordan, youth under the age of thirty comprise more than 70 percent of the population. But the growing youth population has faced limited opportunities to engage in politics, leading to rising apathy and low civic participation among young Jordanians. For any democracy to succeed it must deliver for citizens through accountability, transparency and inclusion of all people in the democratic process.

Best DemWorks Posts of 2019

Wow, another year has passed and the DemWorks blog is now five years old. In 2019, DemWorks had some huge growth spurts, adding Podcast and Video series and reaching upwards of 73,400 unique pageviews – that’s nearly 23 percent increase over last year!

Happy Holidays from NDI | 2019 in Review

2019 marks my first full year at the helm of the National Democratic Institute. Looking back on a year that marked the 30th anniversary of both the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in China and the fall of the Berlin Wall in Europe, there is much on which to reflect.

Bonus 04 How does an American organization remain separate form the U.S. government?

Current and Former NDI presidents Brian Atwood, Derek Mitchell, and Ken Wollack (left to right)

As DemWorks first year draws to a close, NDI President Derek Mitchell has one final question for his predecessors, Brian Atwood and Ken Wollack. How, as an American organization, has NDI remained separate from the U.S. government, and how has the issue of democracy support evolved over time?

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