Democracy & Governance

"Democracy is a device that ensures that we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
~George Bernard Shaw

We strive to build responsible citizenries that are demanding of good governance and governments that are deserving of the trust reposed in them.

We help newly elected leaders learn the tools of democratic governance.   We also train military and international development professionals who are in the democracy-building business so they can do their jobs effectively in difficult environments.

The key is mentoring elected officials in a way that allows them to discover their roles as democratic representatives.   Our special Briefing Programs in “The Democracy Training Toolkit: A New Toolkit for Military and Others at the Leading Edge of International Development” do just that.

These programs have led an exiled provincial council in al Anbar, Iraq to become a capable and functioning governing body recognized as a model for the country.

A belief in the importance of the Rule of Law and respect for human rights are bedrocks of our philosophy.   We also build more transparent and accountable governance through our anticorruption programs.

Please see our civil society page for more information on community programs.