National Democratic Institute Explained

National Democratic Institute
Abbreviation:NDI
Formation:1983
Type:Non-profit non-governmental organization
Headquarters:455 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Tamara Cofman Wittes
Leader Title2:Chairwoman

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a non-profit American non-governmental organization whose stated mission is to "support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability". It is funded primarily by the United States and other Western governments, by major corporations and by nonprofits like the Open Society Foundations.

The NDI was founded in 1983, shortly after the United States Congress created the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The NED's creation was followed by the establishment of three related institutes: the Center for International Private Enterprise, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, and the National Republican Institute for International Affairs, later renamed the International Republican Institute (IRI). NED provides funds to these three institutes and an expanding number of private sector groups so that they are able to carry out their programs abroad.

While headquartered in Washington, D.C., NDI operates exclusively outside of the United States, promoting democratic civil participation, elections, debates, democratic governance, democracy and technology, political inclusion of marginalized groups, and gender, women and democracy, peace and security, political parties, and youth political participation worldwide.[1] Officially non-partisan, NDI takes no position on U.S. elections, though maintains a loose affiliation with the Democratic Party and is a "cooperating organization" with Liberal International and an affiliated organisation of Centrist Democrat International.[2] [3] [4]

Leadership

In January 2024, NDI announced the appointment of Tamara Cofman Wittes (who served on NDI's board from 2014 to 2022) as its new president, effective March 15, 2024, succeeding Mitchell.[5] In January 2018, NDI announced the appointment of Derek Mitchell as its president, succeeding Kenneth Wollack.[6]

As of December 2023, NDI's board of directors includes: Thomas A. Daschle (chair), Harriet C. Babbitt (vice chair), Robert G. Liberatore (treasurer), Frank M. "Rusty" Conner (secretary), Stacey Abrams, Bernard W. Aronson, J. Brian Atwood, Donald A. Baer, Rye Barcott, Donna Brazile, Johnnie Carson, Dean Falk, Sam Gejdenson, Bonnie S. Glaser, Caryn Halifax, Kathryn Hall, Karl F. Inderfurth, Shanthi Kalathil, Eric Kessler, Peter Kohler, David C. Leavy, Michael McFaul, Nancy H. Rubin, Dana Shell Smith, Michael R. Steed, Maurice Templesman, Clyde C. Tuggle, Toni G. Verstandig, and Maureen White.[7] Madeleine K. Albright served as board chair until her death in 2022.[8]

Activities

Chile

NDI started its activities in Chile in 1985. Its programs promoted free elections, working together with opposition leaders. In 1988, it participated in the United States campaign for the No at the Chilean national plebiscite. The United States Congress budgeted this campaign with that the National Endowment for Democracy distributed through the NDI, the International Republican Institute, Free Trade Union Institute, and the Center for International Private Enterprise. NDI participated in organizing seminars, sending political consultants, and an election observation mission.[9] [10] [11]

Nicaragua

In the 1980s, NDI participated in the broader National Endowment for Democracy programs against the Nicaraguan Revolution.[12]

Northern Ireland

In the 1980s, NDI provided support to the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland to strengthen its democratic principles.[13]

Taiwan and Hong Kong

In April 2020, NDI released the documentary “Canary in the Digital Coalmine” exploring Taiwan's civil society response to counter disinformation and misinformation amid national elections.[14] [15] NDI announced the decision to open its first field office in Taiwan in October 2020 and hired former Taiwan diplomat Alfred Wu as its inaugural field director in March 2021.[16] [17] Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen spoke at NDI's Celebration of Democracy gala in December 2020.[18]

NDI states it has worked with civil society partners in Hong Kong since 1997 and that it has been supporting Hong Kong's democratic development since then.[19] It published The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong Reports 1997 - 2016 in September 2016 and Fright & Flight: Hong Kongers Face the Demise of Democracy in September 2021.[20] [21]

NDI former president Derek Mitchell testified at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Asia Subcommittee's hearing titled “Stemming a Receding Tide: Human Rights and Democratic Values in Asia” in September 2020.[22]

North Korea

NDI began collaborating with South Korean civil society organizations in 2011 to advance democratic governance in North Korea.[23]

Ukraine

In the 2000s, NDI worked with election monitoring organizations such as the Committee of Ukrainian Voters to provide financial and technical assistance to develop election monitoring capabilities. This monitoring played a salient role in popular uprising against electoral fraud during the Orange Revolution.[24]

United States

They are partnered with Gov2U[25] an organization acquired by Scytl.[26]

Venezuela

According to an article in the American socialist magazine Jacobin, after the death of Hugo Chávez, the NDI provided funding and training to the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition of opposition parties in Venezuela. The MUD used the NDI's assistance to create a voter database and target swinging voters through Facebook. In 2015, the opposition won a majority in the Venezuelan National Assembly for the first time since 1999 and the magazine states that the NDI said a "determining factor in the success of the coalition in the parliamentary elections of 2015 was a two-year effort prior to the elections to raise awareness, train and align national and regional structures of communication of all the parties that conform the MUD".[27]

Funding

NDI receives financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy,[28] the US Agency for International Development,[29] the US Department of State,[30] and the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.[31] The NDI also receives contributions from governments, foundations, multilateral institutions, corporations, organizations, and individuals. Some of these institutions include the Government of Australia,[32] Government of Denmark,[33] Government of Belgium[34] and the Open Society Foundations.[35]

Awards, events, and honors

Reception

The socialist magazine Monthly Review stated that the terms democracy assistance, democracy building, and democracy promotion are rhetorically employed to overpower nationalist and socialist resistance to US economic and cultural domination, particularly in Russia and nearby states.[46]

The NDI provided funding to the Cambodian opposition party Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and was expelled from Cambodia in August 2017.[47] [48]

In August 2020, Beijing announced sanctions over NDI and NDI president Derek Mitchell.[49] In December 2020 the Chinese government announced additional sanctions over three members of the institute, including Asia-Pacific regional director Manpreet Singh Anand.[50] NDI responded by stating that "While it remains unclear what this announcement means in practice, NDI will not waver in its commitment to support fundamental democratic principles transparently and legally across Asia and elsewhere."[51]

Richard Falk, former United Nations special rapporteur, says that NDI and IRI, although stating they are non-partisan, "are explicitly affiliated with each of the two political parties dominant in the United States" and that they are "overtly ideological in their makeup, funding base and orientation."[52]

Publications

Reports

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Martin . Michael . August 31, 2023 . Why have we seen so many recent coups across West and Central Africa? . . November 28, 2023.
  2. https://www.ndi.org/frequently_asked_questions FAQs
  3. Web site: Cooperating Organisations. Liberal-international.org. May 20, 2018.
  4. Web site: IDC-CDI . 2024-06-01 . idc-cdi.com/ . en-US.
  5. Web site: wmickail . 2024-01-22 . Tamara Cofman Wittes Appointed President of the National Democratic Institute . 2024-01-23 . www.ndi.org . en.
  6. Web site: erodriguez . 2018-06-14 . Former Ambassador Derek Mitchell Chosen as New President of NDI . 2023-12-13 . www.ndi.org . en.
  7. Web site: Board of Directors National Democratic Institute . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512212548/https://www.ndi.org/board-directors . May 12, 2023 . 2023-12-13 .
  8. Web site: 2016-09-02 . MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT (1937-2022) . 2023-12-14 . www.ndi.org . en.
  9. News: Abraham F.. Lowenthal. Chile and the No Vote--a Bravo for U.S. Role. Los Angeles Times. October 13, 1988. August 18, 2018.
  10. News: Barbara. Gamarekian. Washington Talk: Foreign Affairs; How U.S. Political Pros Get Out the Vote in Chile. The New York Times. November 18, 1988. August 18, 2018.
  11. Book: National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. 1989. La transición chilena hacia la democracia. El Plebiscito Presidencial de 1988. The chilean transition to democracy. The Presidential Plebiscite of 1988. Capítulo 1: Actividades del NDI en Chile. Chapter 1: NDI activities in Chile. 5–12. es.
  12. News: Robert. Pear. U.S. Allots $2 Million to Aid Anti-Sandinistas. The New York Times. April 25, 1989. August 18, 2018.
  13. News: James F.. Clarity. Warren. Weaver. BRIEFING; Irish Are Looking In. The New York Times. October 14, 1985. August 18, 2018.
  14. Web site: 2020-04-15 . Canary in a digital coal mine . 2023-10-03 . www.ndi.org . en.
  15. Web site: AIT . 2020-10-28 . Fact Sheet: 2020 U.S.-Taiwan Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region and Beyond . 2023-10-03 . American Institute in Taiwan . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2020-10-28 . NDI Announces Plans to Open a New Office in Taiwan . 2023-09-28 . www.ndi.org . en.
  17. Web site: cmccleskey . 2021-03-08 . NDI Announces Hiring of First Resident Director in Taiwan . 2023-10-03 . www.ndi.org . en.
  18. Web site: President Tsai delivers address at 2020 NDI Celebration of Democracy Gala . 2023-10-03 . english.president.gov.tw . en.
  19. Web site: 2008-04-08 . Hong Kong . 2023-10-03 . www.ndi.org . en.
  20. Web site: 2016-09-29 . The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong Reports 1997 - 2016 . 2023-10-03 . www.ndi.org.
  21. Web site: Broderick . Sabrina . 2021-09-28 . Fright & Flight: Hong Kongers Face the Demise of Democracy . 2023-10-03 . www.ndi.org . en.
  22. Web site: Written Testimony by Derek Mitchell, President, National Democratic Institute, U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation "Stemming a Receding Tide: Human Rights and Democratic Values in Asia" .
  23. Web site: jfrant . 2016-09-30 . North Korea . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130000942/https://www.ndi.org/asia/north-korea . November 30, 2023 . 2024-02-11 . www.ndi.org . en.
  24. Web site: McFaul. Michael. May 2006. Importing Revolution: Internal and External Factors in Ukraine's 2004 Democratic Breakthrough. Stanford University Center on Democracy, Development, and The Rule of Law.
  25. Web site: Government To You Gov2U - Our Network. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110920064759/http://www.gov2u.org/index.php/our-network. 2011-09-20.
  26. Web site: Scytl acquires Gov2U's software division expanding its eDemocracy solutions portfolio - MarketWatch. https://web.archive.org/web/20130609022607/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/scytl-acquires-gov2us-software-division-expanding-its-edemocracy-solutions-portfolio-2013-04-30. 2013-06-09.
  27. Web site: Gill . Tim . Lewelling . Christian . Documents Show How the US Government Used Social Media to Intervene in Venezuela . jacobinmag.com . 1 November 2021 . 30 October 2021.
  28. Web site: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY. www.ned.org. 2016-12-16.
  29. Web site: U.S. Agency for International Development. www.usaid.gov. 2016-11-05.
  30. Web site: U.S. Department of State. www.state.gov. 2016-11-05.
  31. Web site: Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-11-05.
  32. Web site: australia.gov.au. www.australia.gov.au. 2016-11-05.
  33. Web site: Government and Politics-The official website of Denmark. denmark.dk. 2016-11-05. 2012-05-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120527180026/http://denmark.dk/en/society/government-and-politics. dead.
  34. News: The federal government. 2014-11-24. Belgium.be. 2016-11-05.
  35. Web site: Partners.
  36. Web site: The Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Award. www.ndi.org. 22 June 2024. en.
  37. Web site: NDI To Honor Archbishop Tutu, Women's League of Burma NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220141551/https://www.ndi.org/node/15009. 2016-12-20. dead.
  38. Web site: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf NDI. www.ndi.org. 18 June 2008. 2016-12-15.
  39. Web site: Jimmy Carter NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314204302/https://www.ndi.org/node/14701. 2016-03-14. dead.
  40. Web site: Václav Havel NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20150801225822/https://www.ndi.org/node/14703. 2015-08-01. dead.
  41. Web site: Bill Clinton NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315025507/https://www.ndi.org/node/14705. 2016-03-15. dead.
  42. Web site: Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas NDI. www.ndi.org. 2016-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315025318/https://www.ndi.org/node/14707. 2016-03-15. dead.
  43. Web site: Madeleine K. Albright, Chairman NDI. www.ndi.org. 2 September 2016. 2016-12-15.
  44. Web site: Leadership in Democracy Award. www.ndi.org. 22 June 2024. en.
  45. Web site: The Andi Parhamovich Fellowship. www.ndi.org. 11 January 2017.
  46. http://monthlyreview.org/2006/12/01/the-myths-of-democracy-assistance-u-s-political-intervention-in-post-soviet-eastern-europe The Myths of 'Democracy Assistance': U.S. Political Intervention in Post-Soviet Eastern Europe
  47. News: Cambodia's government asks the courts to abolish the opposition. The Economist. 12 October 2017.
  48. Web site: Statement on Cambodian Government's Decision to Shut Down NDI's Office in Cambodia . NDI.org . National Democratic Institute . 26 June 2018.
  49. Web site: wmickail . 2020-08-11 . DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO THREAT OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT SANCTIONS . 2023-09-13 . www.ndi.org . en.
  50. News: 2020-11-30. China sanctions four with U.S. democracy promotion ties over Hong Kong. en. Reuters. 2021-02-09.
  51. Web site: cmccleskey . 2020-11-30 . Statement on People's Republic of China's Announcement of Sanctions Targeting NDI . 2023-09-13 . www.ndi.org . en.
  52. News: When an 'NGO' is not an NGO: Twists and turns under Egyptian skies . Al Jazeera.
  53. Web site: Broderick . Sabrina . 2021-08-24 . Cart Without A Horse: North Korea, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development . 2024-02-11 . www.ndi.org . en.

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