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Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program “For the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny.” —Ronald Reagan “Like so many other things, democracy has to be nurtured. It has to be cultivated and people have to be given the opportunity to see that it is in their best interests. And so we have come to the conclusion after a long struggle that there must be ways other than with the use of military power, economic tools, and other diplomatic resources, to encourage people to help themselves to the fruits of freedom. This is what the National Endowment for Democracy is all about.” —Dante Fascell 1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004 202.378.9700 | www.NED.org | [email protected] www.ned.org/fellowships/reagan-fascell-democracy-fellows-program 10years 2 | Leading Testimonials 4 | Programmatic Highlights 37 | Behind the Scenes Democrats at Risk | 20 Fellowship Experience | 6 The Reagan-Fascell Democ- Learning, networking, and international solidarity racy Fellows Program is an international exchange visitor program based at the National Fall 2003 Endowment for Democracy Shahin Abbasov (Azerbaijan) Zainab Bangura (Sierra Leone) (NED), a private, nonprofit Anahit Bayandur (Armenia) Anne Mugisha (Uganda) foundation dedicated to the Albino Okeny (Sudan) growth and strengthening of Tomás Pojar (Czech Republic) Aqil Shah (Pakistan) democratic institutions around Vladimir Tismaneanu (U.S.) 2003 2004 Francisco Villagrán (Guatemala) the world. Each year, NED makes more than 1,000 grants Fall 2004 Ilyas Akhmadov (Russia) to support the projects of non- Dragan Djuric (Montenegro) Abiodun Kolawole (Nigeria) governmental groups abroad Chingiz Mammadov (Azerbaijan) who are working for demo- James Ng’ombe (Malawi) Akintola Olaniyan (Nigeria) cratic goals in more than 90 Yulia Savchenko (Kyrgyzstan) Vitali Silitski (Belarus) countries. 2004 2005 Alumni Roll Call | 34 ON THE COVER, clockwise Alumni Leading the Way | 14 from left: Artist’s rendering of Building new organizations, publishing books, pushing for change Anne-Stella Fomumbod (Cam- eroon, Spring 2011); Ronald Reagan and Dante Fascell; Spring 2009 Fellows’ visit to U.S. Capitol; Fall 2010 Fellows Arturo Alvarado, Roukaya Kasenally, and Levan Berdzen- ishvili; the NED Library. Regional Impact | 22 From the Archives | 36 Strengthening democratic institutions and values worldwide 10 NED International Forum for Democratic Studies y ears 1 s a longtime advocate for international democracy assistance with Tributes“A faith in the power of international exchange, I am impressed with the substantial contribution of the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program over the past ten years. This Congressionally-funded program represents a tangible way in which the American people show their support for human rights and democracy—person by person—across the spectrum of democratic development, from fledgling democracies Leading Testimonials to some of the world’s most repressive political environments. —Richard Gephardt, Chairman, Board of Directors, National Endowment for Democracy s chairman of the he Reagan-Fascell “A Board of the National “TDemocracy Fel- Endowment for Democracy lows Program is a tribute in 2001, it was my privilege to the leadership of two great Americans whose to witness the start-up of the combined vision led to the Reagan-Fascell Democracy creation of the National Fellows Program. Endowment for Democra- What began with four cy: former President Ron- fellows arriving just a few weeks after ald Reagan, whose famous Westminster Address in September 11, 2001, has now developed 1982 launched the field of democracy assistance into a strong alumni network of more internationally; and the late Democratic Con- than 180 democracy activists, journalists, gressman Dante Fascell, whose steadfast commit- and scholars from over 80 countries ment to the cause of democracy was exemplified by his leading role in the founding of the Endow- around the globe. ment. The Fellows Program contributes greatly to all I consider the program to be at the heart of aspects of the Endowment’s work, enhancing what NED does best: supporting courageous both its networking and grantmaking individuals building democracy on their own capability.” terms in their home countries.” —Vin Weber, past Chairman, Board of Directors, NED —Carl Gershman, President, NED 2 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program | 10th Anniversary have known t has been a am proud to I the Reagan- Igreat joy for I have helped to Fascell Democ- me to oversee launch the Rea- racy Fellows the establish- gan-Fascell De- Program from mocracy Fellows ment of the its inception Program with my in 2001, when Reagan-Fas- NED colleagues. I was asked cell Democ- We felt from the to chair the racy Fellows beginning, and Board’s new Program and to watch it grow we still feel, that having the Fellows, Fellowship Committee, which I with their variety of experiences, did very gladly. over the past ten years. I have come to know an extraordinary intellects, and approaches to demo- I must say this is one group of men and women, both cratic development, in residence at the NED—interacting with the su- scholars and activists, from every of the most successful perb Grantmaking Program staff, the corner of the world. Almost all of programs at the NED. International Forum for Democratic them have been engaged on the Studies, and the Journal of Democra- It brings together both front lines of democratic activism cy—is a wonderfully enriching expe- scholars and activists or scholarship, and my colleagues rience for the entire NED family. The and has helped to create and I have learned an enormous NED is a unique institution in Wash- ington, not only for its longstand- a worldwide network of amount from them. But we have also gained something more—di- ing work as a grassroots democracy individuals who are in rect and personal links with the assistance organization, but also for engaging the world of ideas and re- struggles to achieve and main- the business of building search. The work of the International democratic institutions. tain democracy taking place in so Forum toward uniting theory and many countries across the globe. practice has been advanced signifi- The Reagan-Fascell program Reagan-Fascell alumni testify to cantly by the Reagan-Fascell Fellows enables these individuals to learn the benefits that they derive from over the past ten years. from one another, as their shared experiences are often more their residence at NED, but I often —Larry Diamond relevant than those of people think that the Washington com- Senior Advisor, International Forum for Democratic Studies living in secure democracies. munity gains even more than the One of the great things about fellows do. the program is that after people —Marc F. Plattner come to Washington, they stay Vice-President for Research in touch, and they continue and Studies, NED to share experiences down the road. I congratulate everyone who has been associated with the program and look forward to continuing my involvement in the years ahead. —Francis Fukuyama Member, NED Board of —Carl Gershman, President, NED Directors L-r: Ibrahim Lipumba (Tanzania), Birtukan Midekssa (Ethiopia), Francis Fukuyama, Marc F. Plattner, Timur Kurbanov (Russia), Aziz Royesh (Afghanistan), and Normando Hernández (Cuba). 10 NED International Forum for Democratic Studies 3 A Decade of Democracy Exchange unded by the U.S. Congress and named in honor of NED’s principal founders, former president Ronald Reagan and the late congressman Dante Fascell, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program was established in 2001 to enable democracy practitioners Fand scholars from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change. This international exchange program hosts democracy activists, human rights advocates, journalists, and others who work on the frontlines of building democracy, bringing fresh insights and perspectives to the Endowment and to Washington, D.C. The Reagan-Fascell program makes The Reagan-Fascell programdemocracies contribute to the its home at the International provides activists and practitioners collegial mix. In recent years, the Programmatic Highlights Programmatic Forum for Democratic Studies, with a needed break from their program has developed specialized the research and publications arm daily routine so that they may resources in support of “emergency” of the National Endowment for reflect on their work, share ideas candidates and democrats at risk, Democracy. Established in 1994, the with counterparts, and reevaluate including human rights defenders Forum has become the preeminent techniques for building democracy in in need of temporary safe haven and center for analysis of the theory and their country of origin. The program exiled advocates seeking to continue practice of democratic developments also welcomes journalists and their democracy work while worldwide, publishing the Journal scholars from emerging and aspiring rebuilding their lives in the United of Democracy and providing a rich democracies, and a small number States. intellectual setting for international of accomplished scholars from the educational exchange. United States and other established The program offers two five-month sessions per year: Fall (October 1– The Reagan-Fascell program facilitates the free exchange of ideas. February 28) and Spring (March L-r: Albino Okeny, Marc F. Plattner, Larry Diamond, Carl Gershman & Zainab Bangura
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