Lorne W. Craner and Kenneth Wollack discuss Advancing Democracy Across the Globe.
Lack of experience and unstable democratic structures often hinder countries that seek to create democratic governing systems. As part of the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs work to assist those advocating for democratic reform. Through volunteers and policy encouragement, these organizations support national legislatures, local governments, and the future of global democratic citizenship.
Lorne W. Craner and Kenneth Wollack will explain how their organizations successfully promote democracy worldwide, and why these efforts matter. They will explore the challenges of the democracy backlash, weak institutions, and building a constituency for reform. This foreign policy event is a unique opportunity to learn from two individuals at the very forefront of democracy building- World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C.
Bio
Thomas Carothers
Thomas Carothers is the vice president for studies-international politics and governance at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In this capacity, he oversees the Democracy and Rule of Law Project, which he founded, and the Middle East Program.
Carothers is a leading authority on democracy promotion and democratization worldwide, as well as an expert on U.S. foreign policy generally. He is the founder and director of the Democracy and Rule of Law Project, which analyzes the state of democracy in the world and the efforts by the United States and other countries to promote democracy.
In addition, he has broad experience in matters dealing with human rights, international law, foreign aid, rule of law, and civil society development.
Lorne W. Craner
Lorne Craner returned to the International Republican Institute (IRI) as President in August, 2004, following his unanimous selection by IRI's Board of Directors.
He has led the strengthening of IRI's programs in countries such as China, Colombia, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey.
Previously, Craner was Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for Secretary of State Colin Powell. Upon his departure from the State Department, Secretary Powell presented Craner with the Distinguished Service Award, the department's highest honor.
From 1995 to 2001, Craner, as IRI's President, led the institute to new levels of programmatic achievement, fundraising, financial accountability and news coverage. He joined IRI as Vice President for programs in 1993. From 1992-93 he served at the National Security Council as Director of Asian Affairs, and from 1989-92 was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. Craner was Senator John McCain's legislative assistant (LA) for foreign policy from 1986-89; he began his career as then-Congressman Jim Kolbe's foreign policy LA.
In June 2007, Craner was again confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to a seat on the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Board of Directors.
Craner chairs the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion and sits on the Boards of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Internews Network. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he has testified on numerous occasions before House and Senate Committees.
Craner received his master's degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and his bachelor's degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
Kenneth Wollack
Kenneth Wollack is president of NDI. He has been actively involved in foreign affairs, journalism and politics since 1972.
Mr. Wollack joined NDI in 1986 as executive vice president. The Institute's board of directors elected him president in March 1993.
Mr. Wollack has traveled extensively in Eastern and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa on behalf of the Institute's political development programs.
Before joining NDI in 1986, Mr. Wollack co-edited the Middle East Policy Survey, a Washington-based newsletter. He also wrote regularly on foreign affairs for the Los Angeles Times. From 1973 to 1980, he served as legislative director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Mr. Wollack has been active in American politics, serving on the national staff of the McGovern presidential campaign in 1972. He is a graduate of Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and has studied abroad at the University of London. Mr. Wollack currently is a member of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid and is the chairman of the board of directors for the U.S. Committee for the United Nations Development Programme.