Organization Enters Fourth Decade of Democracy Promotion
Ambassador Mark Green has officially joined the International Republican Institute (IRI) as its new president. A former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania and four-term congressman from Wisconsin, Green said he was honored to join the IRI team as it begins its fourth decade of operation as one of the world’s leading democracy promotion organizations.
Launched in 1983, and chaired by U.S. Senator John McCain, IRI has worked in more than 100 countries and today, along with the Women’s Democracy Network, is active in more than 80 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa.
Through programs that focus on political party and candidate development, strengthening democratic governance practices, civil society development, civic education, women’s and youth leadership development, electoral reform and election monitoring, and political expression in closed societies, IRI is making a difference in the lives of pro-democracy activists, aspiring leaders, elected officials and civic-minded citizens.
From its earliest days, IRI has sought to build partnerships and alliances with likeminded organizations from around the globe. These efforts have led to work with multilateral organizations like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations, and with partners like Australia’s Liberals and the European People’s Party, and with institutions in newer democracies, such as India, Indonesia, Mexico, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia, who share their recent, relevant democracy building experiences with those countries just beginning to undertake their democratic transitions.
As IRI celebrates its 30 anniversary, the object remains, as President Ronald Reagan said in 1982, “a world where all people are free to determine their own destiny.” Until that day though, IRI will stand with those aspiring democrats who ask for our help.
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