Building an Inclusive Political Environment for Wo…
Inclusive political participation is a core element of a democracy. In Kosovo, equal participation within, and representation by, political parties…
regionEurope
Since the collapse of communism in Europe in the 1990s, democracy has seen mixed results, at best, in Southeastern Europe. Democracies in the region are still confronted with many challenges, including a rapidly shifting array of political parties, worrying upticks in malign foreign influence, and rising levels of youth emigration.
In an IRI regional poll conducted in 2020, a majority of citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia indicated that they believed that their country was either a “flawed democracy” or not one at all, underscoring the need for stronger democracy support.
IRI’s assistance comes in a variety of forms and plays a critical role throughout the region, with eight field offices providing support to political, governmental, and non-governmental actors as they respond to new challenges. Traditionally, in Europe, IRI has worked to strengthen political parties, with IRI experts helping party leaders and candidates run effective, citizen-responsive campaigns. Though this is still a cornerstone of programming in the region, IRI has expanded its work, building partnerships with trusted leaders in civil society, providing expert support to government agencies and civil servants to strengthen transparency and counter corruption, and increasing its investment in promising young leaders across the region.
Some examples of this new approach include IRI’s role in creating a documentary on interethnic reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supporting the development of North Macedonia’s first ever Open Finance Portal, putting in place anti-corruption programs in Albania and Bulgaria, and establishing the region’s premier political leadership academy. As domestic and foreign actors challenge democracy in the region, IRI will continue its work building resilient democratic institutions capable of delivering meaningful change for the citizens of Southeastern Europe.
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Programs
- Program
- Europe
Western Balkans Task Force
IRI’s Western Balkans regional program focuses on countering malign foreign influence and extremism, including extreme ethnonationalism and the rise of the far right, in the region. Since its inception in 2016, the Task Force has developed into a key forum for regional discussions among pro-democratic actors and policy makers who seek to improve the region’s democratic future.
Борба с корупцията на общинско ниво в България…
През юни 2021г. Международният републикански институт (IRI) стартира програмата си за борба с корупцията в 10 български общини, а през…
Bolstering Europe Against the Subversive Tactics o…
IRI is working with political parties across Europe to raise awareness regarding the foreign influence strategies of the CCP and…
Center for the Advancement of Security and Politic…
To bridge the growing lack of understanding regarding the strategic challenges that malign foreign influences pose, rebuild democratic values among…
Countering Municipal Corruption in Bulgaria…
In June 2021, IRI launched its municipal anti-corruption program in 10 Bulgarian municipalities, and expanded its program to a second…
Defending Democratic Institutions in Central, East…
To improve the ability of European political parties to understand and adapt to their electorates’ shifting priorities, IRI’s Defending Democratic Institutions in…
Foreign Policy in Politics – How to bring Citizens…
In light of recent geopolitical changes, foreign policy has become increasingly relevant to Hungarians who engage in political discussion, and…
Gendered Research into Anti-System Politics…
Through the Gendered Research on Anti System Politics program, IRI aims to dissect and better understand political identity and support in the shifting world of political competition in…
The Transatlantic Security Initiative
Public perceptions of Transatlantic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, such as NATO, are being undermined by nationalistic rhetoric and…
Western Balkans Task Force
IRI’s Western Balkans regional program focuses on countering malign foreign influence and extremism, including extreme ethnonationalism and the rise of…
Countries
Albania
Since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, Albania has made enormous strides in transitioning from dictatorship to democracy,…
Bosnia and Herzegovina
IRI is working in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to promote a multi-party political system that is responsive to citizens’ needs…
Bulgaria
IRI is focusing most of its work in Bulgaria on fighting political corruption. IRI’s programming in the country is aimed…
Kosovo
Though Kosovo has a dynamic political scene, the country’s political parties still need support in their efforts to respond to…
Montenegro
IRI is supporting meaningful youth participation in politics by working with key governing and opposition parties to strengthen Montenegrin party…
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, a parliamentary republic, celebrated three decades of independence and multi-party democracy in 2021. The country has been a…
Serbia
IRI is working to improve party responsiveness to citizens’ needs by promoting political competition, pluralism, and a democratic culture. Specifically,…
Turkey
IRI is promoting political competition by helping political leaders with policy development and advocacy, and by cultivating a new generation…