Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development
The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Stanford Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, California invites policy makers and activists from countries undergoing political, economic and social transitions to participate in its first annual summer fellows program on democracy, development, and the rule of law to be held from August 1-19, 2005 at Stanford University on its northern California campus.
This program will offer a unique approach to studying the ways in which democratic institutions (like political parties, competitive elections, and an independent judiciary) and institutions that foster economic development can be established and strengthened in varying country contexts. In contrast to other programs of democracy promotion that seek to transfer ready made models to countries in transition, the Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development program seeks to provide a comparative perspective on the evolution of established democratic practices as well as a conceptual background into issues of democracy and good governance. The curriculum will draw on the combined expertise of CDDRL staff and Stanford scholars and practitioners in the fields of sociology, business, economics, political science, and law and will emphasize the links between theory and practice.
While traditional programs focus either on democratization, economic development, or the rule of law, the Stanford Summer Fellows Program will seek to locate the points of interaction among these areas. Moreover, we expect that ideas and learning will flow two ways. Although participants will be exposed to Stanford faculty, they will also bring their country and professional experiences into the seminars to help faculty and one another develop case-specific methodologies for addressing real-world problems of democratic and economic development.
Participating Stanford faculty and scholars have been at the forefront of research at the junction of democratic advancement, economic growth, and issues surrounding the establishment of rule of law and human rights. The regular seminars will be complemented with field trips to local government institutions, NGO, and business organizations.
Participants
This program is aimed at early to mid-career policy-makers, academics, and leaders of civil society organizations (such as representatives of trade unions, non-governmental organizations, the media, business and professional associations) who will play important roles in their country's democratic, economic, and social development. We anticipate recruiting a group of 25-30 individuals dedicated to democracy and development promotion within their home countries (particularly in, but not limited to, the regions of the Middle East, Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and other parts of the former Soviet Union).
Successful applicants will be proficient in spoken and written English and will have academic and practical credentials necessary to benefit fully from the course and actively contribute to programmatic discussions. The ideal course participant will have extraordinary motivation, at least three to five years of experience in a relevant field of democratic development, and a keen interest in learning and sharing their knowledge and experiences in transforming their respective countries.
CDDRL hopes that over time the participants in this annual program will form the core of a global network of public intellectuals and activists who are working on issues of democracy, development, and the rule of law.
Funding: Stanford will pay travel, accommodation, living expenses, and visa costs for the duration of the three-week program for a certain portion of applicants. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to supply some or all of their own funding from their current employers, international non-governmental organizations, etc.
How to Apply:
For additional information about the mission of CDDRL, its faculty, and fellows go to http://cddrl.stanford.edu. Application materials are available by visiting this website and clicking on the tab marked "Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development." Applications sent by e-mail or fax are due on April 1, 2005. We welcome applications sent by electronic mail as Microsoft Word attachments. Emailed applications should be sent to: Ganka@stanford.edu Airmailed applications should be postmarked by March 15, 2005. Decisions will be announced no later than April 30, 2005.
You may also request that information be mailed to you by contacting:
Ganka Hadjipetrova
Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development Coordinator Center Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development Coordinator Center
on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law Stanford Institute for
International Studies Encina Hall Stanford University Stanford,
California 94305-6055
Tel.: 1 + 650-725-3036; Fax: 1 + 650-724-2996 or by emailing:
Ganka@stanford.edu
About CDDRL:
The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University's Institute for International Studies (SIIS) seeks to promote innovative and practical research to assist developing countries and transitioning societies in the design and implementation of policies to foster democracy, balanced and sustainable development, and the rule of law.
Scholars affiliated with CDDRL explore how best to harmonize the pursuit of each of these goals in the interest of helping to produce states and societies that are freer, richer, more law-abiding, and more transparent.
The Center also supports specialized teaching, training, and outreach activities to assist countries struggling with problems of political, economic, and judicial reform, constitutional design, economic performance, and corruption to improve their prospects for success. An important dimension of the Center's work is the identification and cultivation of institutional arrangements at all levels of society to encourage greater responsibility and accountability in decision-making, both public and private.
The Center joins four other constituent centers of the Stanford Institute for International Studies and is founded in partnership with the Graduate School of Business (GSB), the Stanford Law School, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.