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News Articles

Demeš Elected to Board of Newly Created European Endowment for DemocracyNovember 28, 2012Pavol Demeš, a senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), was appointed as a board member of the newly founded European Endowment for Democracy (EED).Pavol Demes’ “A Collective Portrait,” tells the story of US contribution to Slovakian Civil SocietyOctober 26, 2012New book details U.S. support to the development of civil society in Slovakia from the Velvet Revolution and the fall of Communism.Belarus: Testing ground for donorsSeptember 01, 2011There is a country in EU’s neighbourhood which could be called a donor desert. Belarus. Not a single independent western donor is allowed to have an office here.Lukashenko Gets the Last LaughAugust 25, 2011Is the European Union working for democracy or aiding a dictator? A recent scandal in which officials in Lithuania and Poland provided the banking details of human rights and democracy activists to the Belarussian authorities is a serious and unprecedented mistake made by two EU member states that for years have tried to help Belarus overcome the autocratic rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. It comes at a particularly bad time and raises several critically important questions, write Pavol Demes and David Marple.Lukashenka needs to feel EU and not only Russian powerJune 28, 2010

The upcoming presidential election in Belarus presents the EU with a new chance to step up to the challenge of confronting Belarus, writes Pavol Demes, director for Central and Eastern Europe at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, in an exclusive commentary for EurActiv.

Twenty Years of Western Democracy Assistance in Central and Eastern EuropeJune 15, 2010Before the European Union and its allies can effectively promote democracy in other countries, they need to address the internal problems brought on by the global economic crisis, from which they have not yet fully recovered. Democracy assistance needs to be tailored to the specific needs and expectations of each country and handled with tact and with respect for local democracy activists. Donor countries also need to be aware of ways that pursuing their own economic or security goals can tarnish their democratic credibility. Despite all these challenges, recent history has provided ample evidence that the human spirit and solidarity can overcome even the direst obstacles and may be our strongest resource in the quest for democracy and cooperation in Europe and beyond.Foundations and post-Lisbon EuropeApril 01, 2010The end of last year was marked by two overlapping historical moments -- the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which led to a profound rearrangement of the European continent, and the anxiety-filled end of the complicated eight-year process to bring about badly-needed constitutional reforms of the EU. After the second Irish referendum, and the Czech Republic finally coming on board, the Lisbon Treaty came into power on December 1, 2009. It is believed that this Treaty will transform Europe into a more unified and influential global player with the capacity to make Europeans more secure and prosperous.The role of think tanks in shaping EU policiesDecember 16, 2009There are various institutions on the Old continent which employ highly educated people to think about our societies and to study social, political, economic and environmental issues. Traditionally, universities and later academies of science and research institutes, attracted smart people whose role was to develop new thinking about human affairs and to explain to power-holders and the public what is really going on in our societies and what is likely to happen in the future.No More Low-Hanging FruitOctober 14, 2009

This year found the Euro-Atlantic community not only busy with pressing economic and political issues but also commemorating several important milestones – the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II, the 60th anniversary of NATO's founding, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This last opened space for unprecedented changes in the former Soviet bloc.

Passing the EurotestDecember 01, 2003For eight Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, 2003 was a year of popular votes on EU accession.1 A series of referendums presented a formidable challenge to governments and civil society. In most cases, if results were to be binding, they had to have not only a majority of votes in support of EU membership but also a majority of citizens participating. Governments of several candidate countries, including Slovakia, therefore decided to tap into thecapacity of the civic sector to mobilize the public. This was not the first time that Slovak NGOs had mobilized citizens to vote: it happened in 1998 and 2002. What was different in 2003 was that the funding for these efforts came from government rather than foreign donors.In Trusts We Trust?June 01, 2003In recent years, the term trust has made a notable entry into the discourse of the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). On the one hand, it has been observed that transition countries are characterized by low levels of trust in society. As a result, interest has arisen in those aspects of democratic life that are beyond institutions, such as culture, values and trust. On the other hand, and seemingly unrelated, the term has signalled a new form of philanthropic institution. The recent emergence of several such entities indicates a new trend in American support for civil society and democracy in the region.

Publications

Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe (Arabic Language)November 14, 2011

The recent surge of democratic movements in the Arab World, including the January 25th protests that topled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime, opens new windows on the world of civil society and its role in asserting democracy. While these movements raise new questions for scholars of democratic movements and activists alike, they also share an inspiration in the democratic breakthroughs in Central and Eastern Europe that preceded them. Inspired by those who shaped the Arab Spring, the German Marshall Fund has published an Arabic translation of Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe, by Pavol Demes, Joerg Forbrig and Robin Shepherd....

Friend – Partner – AllyFebruary 15, 2011The objective of this publication is to point out the milestones of the Slovak-American relationship over the past 20 years and to remember the key diplomats who together with their staffs operated in Bratislava and Washington during this period.To Engage or Not to Engage: The Policy Dilemma of Dealing with BelarusJune 18, 2010

How to deal with Belarus, along with the question of whether to engage or seek to isolate the regime of Aleksandr Lukashenka has been a bone of contention in policy debates across the Atlantic. Sabine Fischer and Pavol Demes take different sides of the debate in this On Wider Europe series.

Moldova’s window of opportunityJanuary 20, 2010Ask most Americans and Europeans to identify Vladimir Filat or find Moldova on a map and you're likely to get a blank stare. Both, however, are worth getting to know. Filat is the new prime minister of Moldova, a small country of four million people that emerged from the break-up of the Soviet Union nearly 20 years ago and borders Ukraine and Romania. Despite its size, Moldova is an important piece to the puzzle of trying to achieve the vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.Focus on Ukraine – Democracy in ProgressJanuary 19, 2010

Voters in Ukraine went to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots for the country’s next president. As expected, none of the 18 candidates secured enough votes to win in the first round, necessitating a second round between the two top vote-getters: former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and current Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko. Both candidates speak of improving relations with Russia and deepening ties with the European Union and the United States.

Why the Obama Administration Should Not Take Central and Eastern Europe for GrantedJuly 19, 2009

Twenty years after the end of the Cold War, Central and Eastern Europe is no longer at the heart of American foreign policy. To some degree, the relationship between the United States and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has become a victim of its own success.

Then and NowJune 01, 2009

There will be numerous events taking place this year commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, among them the CEE Trust's Civil Society Forum in Bratislava in September and the European Foundation Centre and Grantmakers East Forum conferences in Berlin in November. In advance the author shares some of his personal assessments of the last two decades and raises a few harder and unavoidable questions.

Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern EuropeFebruary 14, 2007

Variously labeled "color revolutions," "transitions from postcommunism," or "electoral breakthroughs," and for some representing even a new "wave of democracy," the recent changes in the post-Soviet nations have fascinated scholarly observers and democratic activists alike. This book provides a cross-section of perspectives on recent democratic breakthroughs in Central and Eastern Europe. Case studies drafted by civic leaders present inside accounts of how civil society helped to assert democracy, while comparative analyses by academic experts shed light on a range of further factors that facilitated these changes, including the semi-authoritarian nature of postcommunism, economic aspects, civil society strategies and resources, and youth participation.

Prospects for Democracy in Belarus- 2nd EditionOctober 12, 2006Published jointly by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation of Germany, Prospects for Democracy in Belarus provides a systematic account of recent developments in Belarus, combined with more strategic and policy-oriented considerations on improving Western democracy assistance. It brings together perspectives of twenty-five contributors, including activists, analysts, and policymakers from Belarus, Europe, and the United States. They explore prospects for democracy in Belarus by scrutinizing the domestic and international context prior to the recent elections, by providing a variety of perspectives on the presidential poll and the events surrounding it, and by discussing a variety of options for improving Western, and especially European, support for democracy in Belarus.  Prospects for Democracy in BelarusApril 01, 2006Published by GMF and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Prospects for Democracy in Belarus provides a systematic account of recent developments in Belarus and strategic and policy-oriented considerations on improving Western democracy assistance. It brings together perspectives of 25 contributors, including activists, analysts, and policymakers from Belarus, Europe, and the United States.