Strengthening Democratic Institutions

Heartland International is committed to fostering democratic values in a complex and ever-changing world. In a very short period of time, the world has witnessed the emergence of fledgling democracies in Central and Eastern Europe, and is witnessing tremendous economic, political, and social change in Russia and the NIS. Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are rewriting their constitutions, changing to multi-party systems and allowing opposition groups to have greater voice in their own governance.

Heartland International has designed and implemented numerous programs to strengthen emerging democratic institutions. Among these are training programs for:

• Members of Parliament from Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya focusing on the election process, campaign strategies, the role of political parties within a multi-party system and standards of official conduct;

• Journalists from Mexico, examining the structure and operation of the U.S. criminal justice system, and the range of perspectives on what constitutes justice and the historical factors that help shape those views;

• Educators and NGO leaders from Ethiopia, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda on the development of a comprehensive Civic Education Program;

• Mayors and city administrators from Croatia studying the daily operations of small rural municipalities and examining sustainable economic development projects at the local level;

• NGO leaders from Bosnia focusing on the development of viable advocacy campaigns.

• Secondary School Administrators from Indonesia examining the Civil Rights Movement in the US and high school education to gain insight into tolerance, education and civic participation in a democratic nation

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