Tag Archives: Anticorruption

Witnessing History in Albania

By Trinity Elkins, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

Përshëndetje! This summer I had the incredible privilege of working with the National Democratic Institute in Tirana, Albania, a country with a deeply complex political history. Between 1944 and 1985, the reigning dictator, Enver Hoxha, completely closed Albania off to the rest of the world. Citizens were not allowed to cross the border (in or out), own property, practice religion, or express any sort of individualism. Given his isolationist agenda, Hoxha was immensely paranoid that Albania was on the brink of a foreign invasion, so he ordered the construction of 173,000 bunkers to be built over the 10,500 square miles within its borders during this period. He idealized and aligned himself with Albania’s 15th century national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), in order to legitimize his rule.

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Finding Resilience in North Macedonia

By Siddharth Dasari, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department

I’m going where? That was my reaction this past January, when I found out that I had been placed with National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia through UT’s Embedded Scholars Program. Six months later, and I can confidently say that this has been the most rewarding experience of my life.

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Transparency and Accountability in Bosnia and Herzegovina

By Ella Ponthier, Graduate of the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

Zdravo! My name is Ella, and I am a May 2025 graduate of the LBJ School of Public Affairs. I received my master’s degree in Global Policy Studies with a focus on Central and Eastern European Studies. During my time at the LBJ School, I developed a strong interest in coursework on informal institutions and the state of democracy in post-communist states. Communism in this region ended, seemingly overnight, in the 1990s—but post-communist states did not automatically transform into consolidated democracies. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of those countries.

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Fighting Corruption at the Local Level in North Macedonia 

By Alexander Dominiak, Graduate of the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department

This summer I had the privilege of working with the National Democratic Institute’s office in Skopje, North Macedonia, in a program that has spurred my professional and personal development. I was fortunate enough to be placed with the Integrity Driven Communities project, one of two long-term NDI projects (along with the Parliamentary Support Program), that aims to strengthen anti-corruption measures at the local level. As a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in International Relations and Global Studies, this experience has allowed me to witness firsthand how international collaboration in good governance procedures occurs at the ground level and how that collaboration has tangible effects on the lives of everyday citizens in the country. It’s inspiring to see the passion with which my colleagues and fellow interns work to strengthen democratic governance in the country. 

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Fighting Corruption and Advancing Civic Engagement in North Macedonia

By Arion Moore, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department and Liberal Arts Honors Program

The time I have spent this summer in Skopje, North Macedonia has been an unforgettable experience that I will look back on with fond memories and invaluable lessons throughout the rest of my academic journey. As a Government major in the University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts Honors program, the work I engaged in with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) aligned perfectly with my academic and professional pursuits and my desire to contribute to the promotion of democracy.

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Supporting Election and Governance Reform Efforts in Panama

By Allyson Dean, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

As soon as I wrapped up my time in session with the Texas House of Representatives, I flew to Panama City for the start of the Panamanian legislative session and the beginning of my internship with International IDEA. This internship culminates my academic and legislative experience in government capacity and transparency efforts in Panama. I work at the Panamanian office with a brilliant and incredibly kind team who have shown me the ropes of the National Assembly of Panama and shared insights into local hot spots. Luckily, I arrived just before the second of two annual legislative sessions, giving me time to get up to speed. 

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Skopje Team Shares Research on Anticorruption with Ministry

The Embedded Scholars team interning at the National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia met with the Minister of Digital Transformation this week as part of their research on anticorruption efforts in the country. The Ministry’s facebook post on the meeting noted that “We had an honest and constructive discussion on a number of important topics. Meetings like these are a great opportunity to exchange experiences and build bridges with future leaders and researchers from around the world.”

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