Event Summary
The Strengthening Democratic Institutions Project''s (SDI) democratization strand focuses on promoting democracy in Russia with efforts aimed at supporting and encouraging the primary institutions necessary for a sustainable democracy such as a free press, the rule of law, a pluralized economy, and political parties.
In February SDI hosted Grigory Yavlinsky, member of the Russian State Duma, Co-founder and Chairman of the Russian Democratic Party Yabloko, and former candidate for Russian president. Yavlinsky led a lively discussion at BCSIA assessing Russian democracy during which he expressed concern about Russia''s "managed democracy."
One of the problems consistently cited as impeding the development of democracy in Russia has been the absence of the rule of law. The year 2001 witnessed sweeping changes in many legal codes and procedures that have been severely neglected over the past decade, as well as the passage or amendment of laws intended to further improve Russia''s commercial development.
In March SDI published issue #7 of Russia Watch, examining the question of rule of law in Russia. This issue featured analysis from leading experts, including Sergei Stepashin, Chairman of the Auditing Chamber of the Russian Federation, Stephen Handleman of Time Magazine International, Yelena Mizulina, Member of the Russian State Duma, Lee Wolosky, Former Director for Transnational Threats at the National Security Council, Ruben Vardanian of Troika Dialog Bank, and other leading Russian and Western commentators.
SDI''s upcoming activity in its democratization strand include publication of Russia Watch issue #8, which will focus on the NATO-Russia relationship, and the organization of a party-building program for a delegation from the Russian Democratic Party Yabloko.
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/bcsia/sdi