National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is "a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. Calling on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government."
Activities
- Supplying election observers The four organizations receiving most of the NED funding also supply election observers. These either will validate the election of someone who the US government would like to see elected, or they can undermine election results of someone opposed by the USG. Validating election results of despots or dictatorships favorable to US interests are referred to as demonstration elections. NDI has supplied election observers for the Nicaraguan elections, and have also been paid by USAID [1]. (Account of NDI's activities)
- Election observers to the Palestinian 2005 elections. NDI supplied 80 observers working in tandem with the Carter Center. NDI was also instrumental in setting up the Civic Forum, a Palestinian grassroots civic education program [2]. The NDI contingent was led by Patrick Merloe, NDI Director for Elections Program. NB: Most of the same group of observers had just spent a weeks observing the recent elections in Ukraine.
[Source: YourCallRadio.org, January 10, 2005] (Also see Scott Lasensky) - Funding political parties Where the US is attempting to create a political framework compatible with its interests, it is willing to create and fund parties. In the case of Iraq:
- "The U.S. Agency for International Development has spent $80m (£42m) on voter education and training in Iraq through two organisations, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute. Critics of these groups, and those of the National Endowment for Democracy, say they have a long history in places such as Haiti of favouring groups friendly to Washington and undermining "unfriendly" or dissident groups. Les Campbell, IRI Iraq manager, told The Independent his organisation had only spent money on voter training. No money had been spent to fund political parties, he said."
— Andrew Buncombe, "Iranian and Saudi cash weighs against local parties", The Independent, January 29, 2005.
- "The U.S. Agency for International Development has spent $80m (£42m) on voter education and training in Iraq through two organisations, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute. Critics of these groups, and those of the National Endowment for Democracy, say they have a long history in places such as Haiti of favouring groups friendly to Washington and undermining "unfriendly" or dissident groups. Les Campbell, IRI Iraq manager, told The Independent his organisation had only spent money on voter training. No money had been spent to fund political parties, he said."
NDI Board of Directors & Senior Advisory Committee (February 2005)
- Madeleine K. Albright, Chairman
Contact Details
- 2030 M Street, NW
- Fifth Floor
- Washington, DC 20036-3306
- 202 728-5500
- URL: www.ndi.org
External links
- Lisa Ashkenaz Croke and Brian Dominick, "Controversial U.S. Groups Operate Behind Scenes on Iraq Vote," The New Standard, December 13, 2004.
- Ian Traynor,"US Campaign Behind the Turmoil in Kiev," Friday November 26, 2004 The Guardian, Friday November 26, 2004.
