World Movement for Democracy in
Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Spotlight on NGO Work in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia
Developing Policies for Democracy and Monitoring Progress: The Role of Think Tanks
Independent research organizations, often referred to as 'think tanks,' play a vital role in developing reforms, fostering an informed public debate, evaluating policies and advising decision makers, and monitoring progress towards reforms and development of democratic governance. These are the objectives of the institutes and organizations featured in this section. Through their work, these organizations ensure that a pluralistic democratic culture with informed and open debate takes root in their countries and in the region.
This section also includes an interview with Inna Pidluska, of Europe XXI Foundation in Ukraine, as well as a list of online publications and resources relevant to this subject.
Albanian Institute for International Studies - Albania
www.aiis-albania.org/
Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS), an independent nonprofit, nongovernmental think tank based in Tirana, Albania, aims to address regional issues on the development and prognoses of political, economic, security, ethnic, cultural, and religious questions. AIIS conducts a research and advocacy program which promotes greater accountability and transparency of local governments in Albania by increasing citizens' involvement in the decision-making process in their communities. The centerpiece of the project is the development of a policy paper that identifies the main challenges facing communities in improving democratic structures and practices at the local level and offers recommendations on overcoming these challenges. After the policy paper receives the direct input of local officials, civil society representatives and the general public through a series of roundtables and town hall meetings, the document is presented to the key policy-making bodies in Albania including the Parliament, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Mayors' Association.
Caucasian Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) - Georgia
www.cipdd.org/cipdd/
The Caucasian Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD), based in Tbilisi, Georgia, aims to promote democratic and free market values; publicize the fundamental precepts of Western democratic thought; foster greater understanding among the peoples of the Caucasus; and encourage objective analyses of problems related to the post-Soviet transition in Georgia and the Caucasus. There are two major areas in which CIPDD works: processes linked to political transformations in Georgia and other countries of the region, and prospects for peace, security and cooperation in the region. One of CIPDD's recent projects includes four major components: a feasibility study of ethnic conflict early-warning mechanisms; the development of a policy package on a National Concept of Civic Integration; roundtable discussions and seminars to raise public and government awareness of the problems and possible solutions; and the production of a TV talk show series relating problems of state policies towards minority issues and other specific issues of concern.
Center for Democracy and Human Rights - Montenegro
www.cedem.cg.yu/cedem.htm
The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), an NGO established as nonprofit association of citizens, aims to advance and spread conscience on importance of proper and successful democratic transition by researching, analyzing the process of transition, and strengthening civil society and democratization process as a whole. One of CEDEM's projects is to monitor and analyze the different types of laws proposed and passed by the Parliament. Analysts focus on the efficiency and transparency of the Parliament as it drafts and introduces new privatization legislation, including the implementation of new laws after their passage. In addition, CEDEM monitors the state of independent media in Montenegro to assess the level of professionalism and objectivity. Results of CEDEM's analyses are then published in quarterly reports and distributed to key governmental and nongovernmental actors in Montenegro and the international community. CEDEM's quarterly reports also contain practical policy advice and concrete recommendations to the governing coalition and democratic groups in Montenegro, including nongovernmental organizations, independent media and academic institutions.
Center for Independent Political Research (CIPR) - Ukraine
http://old.ucipr.kiev.ua/index.html
The Center for Independent Political Research (CIPR), an independent think tank based in Kyiv, tracks and evaluates the progress of Ukraine's democratic transition. CIPR aims to deepen citizens' knowledge of important political and economic issues; to promote transparency of the Ukrainian political system by providing uncensored debate and analyses of important developments in Ukrainian politics; and to encourage implementation of democratic norms in Ukrainian legislation and greater citizen participation in the legislative process. The CIPR accomplishes these objectives through its Democracy Advocacy Group (DAG), a team of analysts that monitors Ukrainian legislation in terms of its compliance with democratic norms and principles and suggests amendments to pending legislation where appropriate. In order to stimulate public debate, CIPR organizes focus group discussions that gather professionals from nongovernmental think tanks, governmental analytical services, and the media to address issues of concern for the policy-making community. In addition, CIPR carries out research and publishes reports on key issues of Ukrainian domestic foreign policy, civil society, and economic development in its weekly bulletin, the CIPR Research Update, as well as in other reports that are distributed to military experts, parliamentarians, and NGO representatives.
Centre for Liberal Strategies (CLS) - Bulgaria
www.cls-sofia.org/
The Centre for Liberal Strategies (CLS) is a think tank based in Sofia, Bulgaria, born out of the political changes in Eastern Europe. The aim of the CLS is to make a difference both on the field of research and on the field of policy through the use of strategic initiatives. One of its initiatives, entitled Measuring the Public Agenda, through sociological surveys collects data on public attitudes toward market economy, democracy, current political and economic situation in the country, and the role of civil society in Bulgaria; and measuring level of public trust in Bulgarian political institutions. Afterwards, the data is analyzed by the CLS and number of local think tanks, and results are published and distributed to the public. This is followed by a series of in-depth interviews and focus groups discussing the findings of the survey, debating on issues identified by it, and exploring new strategies for further democratic development.
Central Asia and the Caucasus Center for Social and Political Studies
www.ca-c.org/journal-table-eng.shtml
The Central Asia and the Caucasus Center for Social and Political Studies researches and reviews the social and political situation in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It provides intellectual support of political and economic reforms in these countries, forming a positive perception of western liberal democratic values in Central Asia and the Caucasus; encourages the formation of civil society in the region; and creates a database and distributes information. The Center primarily engages researchers, from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and countries whose impact is most felt in the region, by maintaining direct contacts with them through its offices in the respective countries. The results of the Center's research are presented in Central Asia and the Caucasus Journal published by the Center bimonthly in English and Russian. Outside of its main office in Sweden, Central Asia and the Caucasus has branches in all the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in the United States, the Russian Federation, Great Britain, Germany, China, Israel, Iran, Poland, and Ukraine.
Civil Society Foundation - Romania
www.dntb.ro/sfera/fsce.htm
The Civil Society Foundation, an independent NGO with a cultural, scientific, and educational profile, founded by an initiative of a distinguished group of writers, journalists, lawyers, political analysts, and artists in Romania, contributes to the development and consolidation of the civil society and the rule of law in Romania. The Foundation publishes a monthly policy review journal called Sfera Politicii, which contains articles that analyze current political and economic developments in Romania and the Balkan region. The publication of Sfera Politicii helps to stimulate greater debate among the main actors on Romania's political scene by contributing to the dissemination of the notions of democracy, civil society, market economy, and rule of law. Additionally, the Civil Society Foundation conducts studies on democratization and the development of the civil society and organizes seminars and conferences for experts, academia, and students.
"Democracy Audit" in Bulgaria, Georgia and Moldova:
The Institute for Regional and International Studies -
www.iris-bg.org/index.html
The Caucasian Institute for Peace Democracy and Development -
www.cipdd.org/
The Institute for Development and Social Initiative -
www.iatp.md/viitorul/indexe.asp
Three think tanks in the Black Sea region-the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) in Bulgaria, the Institute for Development and Social Initiative (IDIS-Viitorul) in Moldova, and the Caucasian Institute for Peace Democracy and Development (CIPDD) in Georgia-conduct a cross-border research, training and advocacy program which seeks to identify the sources of poor, unaccountable and inefficient governance in the three countries and offer practical policy solutions for overcoming these deficiencies. This regional "democracy audit" will help increase the efficiency, accountability, legitimacy and transparency of key governmental institutions in Bulgaria, Moldova and Georgia by examining and exchanging examples of successful institutional reforms undertaken in the three countries over the past decade.
The program consists of the following elements: three policy papers (one for each country) assessing the performance of selected public institutions and suggesting possible methods for improvement; six roundtables (two in each country) with government representatives and opinion leaders to discuss the policy paper findings; press releases and press conferences to inform the media and public of the findings; two training seminars in Moldova and Georgia for young civil servants and civic leaders; and a final compilation report of the program's findings and outcomes, which will be published in English, Bulgarian, Georgian, and Romanian.
Democratic Initiatives Foundation - Ukraine
www.ukma.kiev.ua/pub/DI/
The Kiev-based Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF) supports Ukraine's transition towards a fully-functioning democracy and, the development of civil society in Ukraine. More specifically, DIF specializes in public opinion analysis of an international standard, analysis of social and political trends, seminars and training for journalists and politicians, and international exchange programs. DIF organizes a program of roundtable discussions and information distribution and conducts polls of Ukraine's leading journalists and political analysts on issues such as political reform, economic development, and corruption. The results of these polls are then used as the basis for monthly roundtables; distributed as press releases; circulated to politicians, officials and NGOs; and posted on the DIF Web site.
Europe XXI Foundation - Ukraine
www.europexxi.kiev.ua/english/index0.html>
The Europe XXI Foundation's goal is to promote the integration of Ukraine into the European Union as a means of supporting the development of Ukrainian democracy. To this end, it conducts a number of activities including research and roundtable discussions with Ukrainian and foreign policy-makers, officials, NGO representatives, and media. It also publishes on free media, market reforms, European integrations and other policy issues. Through these activities, the Foundation develops a variety of NGO and business networks. One of its recent projects focuses on strengthening the role of civil society in policy-making in Ukraine. Europe XXI has selected six regions of Ukraine as the focus of the project. Three of these regions have a well-developed civil society that plays a prominent role in political decision making. Civil society in the other three regions is underdeveloped and plays a less active role the political decision making. Through careful and wide examination and monitoring of the frequency and quality of participation of civil society institutions in the processes of proposing, developing, and implementing policies in a wide variety of issues, Europe XXI hopes to identify causes of the uneven development of civil society participation as well as factors that facilitate greater civil society participation. The monitoring will be followed up by a series of roundtable discussions and development of specific recommendations on actions officials and civil society organizations may take to make the Ukrainian political system more responsive to public input.
Panorama - Russia
www.panorama.ru:8101/index.html
The information research group "Panorama" specializes in producing detailed reports and other publications on political and economic situation and issues in Russia. It functions to increase the level of openness in the political culture and raise citizens' awareness of local and federal political structures by providing information. Panorama's recent project, "An Intent Commentator," compiles news from numerous Russian sources, emphasizing and commentating on existing and emerging patterns that threaten the further development of democracy in Russian, such as managed elections in Russia's regions, government's control over mass media, managed economy, shortcomings of the courts, and more. Other projects include study and reports on the structure of the executive and legislative powers at the city, region, and federal levels; monitoring of nationalism and extremism in the country; and research on political parties and leadership. All reports and projects undertaken by Panorama are available on the Center's Web site.
Partnership for Social Change (PSI) - Georgia
www.psigeorgia.org
The Partnership for Social Change (PSI), an independent, nonpartisan, nongovernmental research and education organization in Georgia, studies public policy based on the principles of virtuous citizenship, honor, dignity and representative liberal democracy including just government, the rule of law, individual liberties and private enterprise. The aim of PSI is to engage Georgian public and political groups in a discussion of modern political culture and customs, some of which could serve as a basis for Georgia's political future; to give the Georgian public information about various forms of government and political philosophies which could form the basis of the state; and to strengthen the Georgian state by giving the population a stake in its success and sustainability. To that end, PSI has organized a project that consists of a series of public debates to educate the public on the theories of liberal constitutionalism and the possible application of those theories to Georgian reality in the context of cultural norms, traditions and history. The project also includes a workshop for experts to draft recommendations for a social contract for Georgia that, if popularly accepted, could form the basis for a new constitution for Georgia.
|
