Democracy in Action: Stories from the Field

This issue of Democracy in Action highlights CIPE partners, related program success, and the unique nature of CIPE’s work in the field. From citizen journalism in Pakistan, to Albanian business association fighting against tax barriers, to launching a new Spanish-language website to connect economic reformers throughout Latin America, our partners are working diligently to enhance the environment for private sector participation and democratic process around the globe.

New Spanish-Language Website Connects Economic Reformers Throughout Latin America

Washington, DC – The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), in conjunction with Perspectiva magazine and the Colombia-based Political Science Institute (ICP), announce the launch of www.revistaperspectiva.com, a new website to connect economic reformers throughout Latin America. Read the rest of the press release here.

Citizen Journalism is Gaining Momentum in Pakistan

By Emad Sohail

Social media has transformed the debate around democracy and access to information in Pakistan by giving citizens and activists the power to write about topics that are impossible to cover in the traditional media. To help support the new voices of these citizen journalists, CIPE Pakistan organized blogger training workshops on June 15 and June 29 in Karachi and Lahore. Read the rest of this article.

Albanian Business Community Unites Against Tax Barriers

By Natalia Otel Belan
Engaging the business community in an open debate not only contributes to better economic policy, but also creates space for the private sector to participate in democracy. Public-private dialogue is an excellent tool for the private sector to discuss challenges and debate possible solutions from the business point of view, as well as highlighting issues the government may have overlooked. Read the rest of this article.

CIPE Partners with Atlas Corps to Launch the Think Tank LINKS Fellowship

Washington, DC – CIPE is pleased to announce a new partnership with Atlas Corps, an international organization that administers an overseas exchange of skilled nonprofit professionals, to launch a new joint program, the Think Tank LINKS (Leaders, Innovators, and Knowledge Sharing) Fellowship. Read the rest of the press release here.

What is the God Particle of Development?

By Julia Kindle
Physicists at the CERN Large Hadron Collider announced the discovery of the Higgs boson, a long-sought particle that helps explain why all things have mass. This discovery got me thinking about the underlying forces at work in development. Why do programs work in some locations and not others? Why are some organizations more consistently successful than others? Why can’t all the well-meaning and very smart people in the field figure this out? Read the rest of this article.