International Republican Institute

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The International Republican Insitute (IRI) is one of the components of the National Endowment for Democracy by which it seeks to influence political outcomes and civic society in lesser developed countries around the world[1]. Its efforts are to channel politics and civic society to promote a neoliberal economic and political model; NED/IRI also engage in activities previously performed by the CIA.[2] IRI is mainly funded by U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy.[3] IRI is loosely affiliated to the Republican party – which doesn’t provide any of its funding.[4]

IRI's stated mission is to "support the growth of political and economic freedom, good governance and human rights around the world by educating people, parties and governments on the values and practices of democracy." However, it has also been linked to efforts to foment a violent military coup in Haiti. Max Blumenthal reports that Stanley Lucas is the program officer for the IRI's Haiti program.[5]

IRI is based in Washington, D.C., and it maintains offices around the world, including:

Africa

Asia

  • Dili, East Timor
  • Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Phnom Phen, Cambodia
  • Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Latin America

Middle East & North Africa

Central and Eastern Europe

  • Belgrade, Serbia
  • Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Bucharest, Romania
  • Istanbul, Turkey
  • Skopje, Macedonia
  • Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Tirana Albania
  • Zagreb, Croatia

Former Soviet Union

IRI in Egypt

On 29 December 2011, Egyptian authorities invaded the offices of various NGOs seeking to transform the political and civil society structure in the country, i.e., IRI, National Democratic Institute, Freedom House, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Budgetary and Human Rights Observatory.[11] All these groups are funded directly or indirectly by the US and German governments. IRI's press release on the incident reveals that IRI has been active in Egypt since 2005.[12] IRI's account of its activities in the country are:

IRI works with Egyptian activists to strengthen their knowledge of political party development, campaign strategy and public opinion research. IRI also provides civil society groups with trainings on how to hold municipal councils accountable.[13]

IRI Principals

IRI Board of Directors and Personnel includes major Republican foreign policy voices, and other prominent Republicans.

Contracts with Republican political advocacy firms

"In December 2004, IRI contracted with Tony Marsh and Lance Copsey of the media consulting firm Marsh, Copsey & Scott to set up a Baghdad Media Center on behalf of the U.S. State Department. Its stated purpose was to assist Iraqi political parties and candidates in the upcoming January elections," reported Muriel Kane in June 2006. [14]

Contact information

1225 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 408-9450
Email: info AT iri.org
Web: www.iri.org

SourceWatch resources

External links

References

  1. One can read about the origins of NED and IRI here
  2. See statement by Alan Weinstein in NED: top
  3. IRI: FAQ: Where does IRI get its funding, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  4. "No, IRI is a nonpartisan organization, not affiliated with any political party." IRI: Is IRI a part of the Republican Party? (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  5. Amy Goodman interviews Max Blumenthal, Did the Bush Administration Allow a Network of Right-Wing Republicans to Foment a Violent Coup in Haiti?, DemocracyNow, 20 July 2004.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Africa Programs, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  7. In 1994, the International Republican Institute (IRI) began a relationship with the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), a civil society organization, dedicated to implementing democracy-strengthening initiatives." Source: South Africa program
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Latin America and the Caribbean, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 Middle East and North Africa, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Eurasia, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  11. David D. Kirkpatrick and Steven Lee Myers, New York Times Covers Raid of IRI's Offices in Egypt, New York Times, 29 December 2011.
  12. IRI Statement Regarding Raids on its Offices in Egypt, IRI, 29 December 2011.
  13. Middle East and North Africa: Egypt, IRI (Accessed: 31 December 2011)
  14. Muriel Kane, "GOP organization linked to dirty politics, attempted coups, 'building democracy' for US," Raw Story, June 9, 2006.

Articles and other resources