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The backlash against democracy assistance : a report
Since the National Endowment for Democracy's inception, the environment for democracy promotion work has changed profoundly, both domestically and globally. Most developments have been positive, justifying the NED's mission, validating its approaches, and facilitating continuing work in the field. These changes include: a dramatic increase in the number of viable democracies, providing regional partners and improving access to previously closed states, particularly in the former Soviet bloc; the collapse of any viable alternative to democracy as a legitimate political order; a robust bipartisan consensus within the U.S. on the desirability and effectiveness of democracy assistance through non-governmental efforts; the expansion and increasing international acceptance of democracy assistance; and the growing cooperation among democracies in providing such assistance. Yet certain adverse factors have arisen which, while not threatening to reverse the historic trend towards democracy, do present challenges to democracy assistance, both operationally and politically. These include: the emergence of semi-authoritarian hybrid regimes characterized by superficially democratic processes that disguise and help legitimate authoritarian rule; the emergence of new actors and agencies committed to undermining, countering, and reversing democratic progress; and new restrictive measures of a legal and extra-legal nature, specifically directed against democracy promotion groups (the principal focus of this report). Foreign governments' efforts to impede democracy assistance--from legal constraints on NGOs to extra-legal forms of harassment--have recently intensified and now seriously impede democracy assistance in a number of states. This backlash is particularly pronounced in the former Soviet states of Eurasia, as well as in China, Venezuela, Egypt, and Zimbabwe. Representatives of democracy assistance NGOs have been harassed, offices closed, and staff expelled. Even more vulnerable are local grantees and project partners who have been threatened, assaulted, prosecuted, imprisoned, and even killed. In addition to impeding democracy assistance efforts, regimes are adopting pro-active approaches, channeling funds to anti-democratic forces and using ersatz NGOs to frustrate genuine democratization. All of this has had a "chilling effect" on democracy assistance, intimidating some groups and activists, and making it more difficult for them to receive and utilize international assistance and solidarity. Yet despite these disturbing developments, which in some cases are prompting practitioners in the field to revert to methods used in closed societies during the 1980s, democracy assistance NGOs are active today in more countries than ever before. The new climate has actually validated the mission and the nongovernmental structure of the NED "family," which has proven its ability to work effectively in sensitive and repressive political climates.
- "Since the National Endowment for Democracy's inception, the environment for democracy promotion work has changed profoundly, both domestically and globally. Most developments have been positive, justifying the NED's mission, validating its approaches, and facilitating continuing work in the field. These changes include: a dramatic increase in the number of viable democracies, providing regional partners and improving access to previously closed states, particularly in the former Soviet bloc; the collapse of any viable alternative to democracy as a legitimate political order; a robust bipartisan consensus within the U.S. on the desirability and effectiveness of democracy assistance through non-governmental efforts; the expansion and increasing international acceptance of democracy assistance; and the growing cooperation among democracies in providing such assistance. Yet certain adverse factors have arisen which, while not threatening to reverse the historic trend towards democracy, do present challenges to democracy assistance, both operationally and politically. These include: the emergence of semi-authoritarian hybrid regimes characterized by superficially democratic processes that disguise and help legitimate authoritarian rule; the emergence of new actors and agencies committed to undermining, countering, and reversing democratic progress; and new restrictive measures of a legal and extra-legal nature, specifically directed against democracy promotion groups (the principal focus of this report). Foreign governments' efforts to impede democracy assistance--from legal constraints on NGOs to extra-legal forms of harassment--have recently intensified and now seriously impede democracy assistance in a number of states. This backlash is particularly pronounced in the former Soviet states of Eurasia, as well as in China, Venezuela, Egypt, and Zimbabwe. Representatives of democracy assistance NGOs have been harassed, offices closed, and staff expelled. Even more vulnerable are local grantees and project partners who have been threatened, assaulted, prosecuted, imprisoned, and even killed. In addition to impeding democracy assistance efforts, regimes are adopting pro-active approaches, channeling funds to anti-democratic forces and using ersatz NGOs to frustrate genuine democratization. All of this has had a "chilling effect" on democracy assistance, intimidating some groups and activists, and making it more difficult for them to receive and utilize international assistance and solidarity. Yet despite these disturbing developments, which in some cases are prompting practitioners in the field to revert to methods used in closed societies during the 1980s, democracy assistance NGOs are active today in more countries than ever before. The new climate has actually validated the mission and the nongovernmental structure of the NED "family," which has proven its ability to work effectively in sensitive and repressive political climates."@en
- "The backlash against democracy assistance : a report"@en
- "The backlash against democracy assistance a report prepared by the National Endowment for Democracy for Senator Richard G. Lugar, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate"