NDI | DemocracyWorks: A Blog of the National Democratic Institute

Is Democracy in Europe Delivering?

Anne Applebaum joins us for the Demworks podcast, "Is Democracy in Europe Delivering?"

Next month marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Democracy looked much different in 1989 than it does today. How has democracy changed in Eastern Europe since the bold steps it took in the region three decades ago?

In this Demworks podcast, NDI President Derek Mitchell sits down with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, analyst, professor, and historian, Anne Applebaum to discuss the current state of democracy in Eastern Europe, and what its future looks like. #Listen to this engaging #podcast as they discuss the importance of citizen participation and political awareness in democracies today.

How does humor help democracy?

Matt Wuerker (left), Derek Mitchell (right)

In this DemWorks podcast we explore humor, arguably the most democratic form of speech. We talk to Matt Wuerker, the Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for Politico, one of the leading news organizations in the United States dedicated to American politics.
Matt’s cartoons pull no punches, skewering Democrats, Republicans and all types of political absurdity. Matt also serves on the board of Cartoonists Rights Network International, an organization that has worked to defend the rights and security of political cartoonists worldwide.

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.

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.

How do we put human beings at the center of designing for democracy?

Since 2014, hundreds of governments, and civic and political organizations have used DemTools, NDI’s democracy toolkit.

Since 2014, hundreds of governments, and civic and political organizations have used DemTools, NDI’s democracy toolkit. DemTools is an open-source software suite designed fill the critical needs of NDI’s partners around the world: involving citizens in decision-making, helping civil society organize for change, managing election data, and pushing their message out to thousands of people at a time.

Pages