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International Republican Institute

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Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute (IRI) is an organization, funded by United States government, that conducts international democratization programs.[1]

Initially known as the National Republican Institute for International Affairs, the IRI's stated mission is to expand freedom throughout the world. Its activities include teaching and assisting with political party and candidate development, good governance practices, civil society development, civic education, women’s and youth leadership development, electoral reform and election monitoring, and political expression in closed societies.

Background

The International Republican Institute (IRI) was founded in 1983, after President Ronald Reagan's 1982 speech before the British Parliament in Westminster in which he proposed a broad objective of helping countries build the infrastructure of democracy. Quoting the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he stated: "we must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings."[2]

The Westminster speech led to the establishment of the National Endowment for Democracy by Congress in 1983. The endowment is a mechanism to channel congressional funds to the International Republican Institute and three other institutes: the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, and the Center for International Private Enterprise. These organizations provide technical assistance to political bodies worldwide.

The majority of the IRI's funding comes from the National Endowment for Democracy.

At first, IRI focused on democratic institutions and processes in Latin America but has expanded its focus worldwide since the end of the Cold War. IRI has conducted programs in more than 100 countries and is currently active in 70 countries.

The IRI operates as a political organization abroad, providing training and assistance to political parties. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, it also plays no part in domestic U.S. politics. However, the majority of its board, staff and consultants are drawn from the Republican Party.[3]

Partner organisations

IRI works with the following organisations:

In Europe, IRI has established a partnership with the European People's Party (EPP).

Involvement in Haiti

IRI was accused by former American ambassador Brian Dean Curran of undermining his efforts to hold peaceful negotiations between Aristide and his opposition after contested senatorial elections in 2000. According to Curran, Stanley Lucas, then IRI's representative in Haiti, advised opposition leaders not to compromise with Aristide, who would soon be driven from power. Curran also alleged that Lucas represented himself to the opposition as the true envoy of Washington, and his advice—which was contrary to that of the State Department—as advice from the American government. [4]

Otto J. Reich, who was the State Department's top official on Latin America under Colin Powell, described a change in American policy toward Haiti with the arrival of the Bush administration. According to Reich, Aristide fell somewhat out of favor with the change of American executive, though Powell continued to publicly profess U.S. support for the democratically elected leader. Curran's allegations were corroborated by Luigi R. Einaudi of the Organization of American States. [5]

IRI personnel

IRI's president, Lorne Craner, assumed leadership on August 2, 2004. From 2001 to 2004, Craner served as Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the US State Department. Craner previously served as IRI's president from 1995 to 2001.

Board of Directors

Officers

Offices

IRI maintains offices around the world and conducts programs in Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, East Timor, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somaliland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, West Bank and Gaza, and Zimbabwe.

References

  1. ^ International Relations Center, loaded 14 April 2007]
  2. ^ United States Support of Human Rights and Democracy, Hearing before the Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights, of the Committee on International Relations House of Representatives, One hundred eighth congress, Second session, July 7 2004, Serial No. 108–133, retrieved 27 July 2007
  3. ^ International Relations Center, loaded 14 April 2007]
  4. ^ Walt Bogdanich and Jenny Nordberg, "Mixed U.S. Signals Helped Tilt Haiti Toward Chaos", New York Times, 29 Jan. 2006 retrieved 28 July 2007.
  5. ^ Walt Bogdanich and Jenny Nordberg, "Mixed U.S. Signals Helped Tilt Haiti Toward Chaos", New York Times, 29 Jan. 2006 retrieved 28 July 2007.
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