By Siddharth (Sid) Dasari, UT International Relations and Global Studies major
I’m going where?
That was my reaction this past January, when I found out that I had been placed with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) 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.
Continue reading Finding Resilience in North MacedoniaBy 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.
Continue reading Fighting Corruption at the Local Level in North MacedoniaBy Avin French, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department
I cannot say that North Macedonia was the place I thought I would spend my summer last year, but after spending six weeks in this alluring place, engaging with the people, exposing myself to the culture, and studying the nation, I could not be more grateful for the opportunity Embedded Scholars has given me at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in North Macedonia.
Continue reading Supporting Parliamentary Strengthening in North MacedoniaBy Allison Andrade, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department and Plan II Honors Program
I had never considered visiting Panama, so when I excitedly told all of my friends and family that I would be spending the summer there, they were perplexed. The truth is that I had no idea what this experience would look like, but I knew that I was eager to explore and learn, and more than anything, I was passionate about being on a team focused on democratic development in Latin America. I can say now that my internship with International IDEA as part of the Embedded Scholars Program has been more than I imagined, and I am grateful for the opportunity to practice my Spanish professionally, work on fostering democracy, and learn about the diversity and history of Panama.
Continue reading Improving Democratic Resilience in Central AmericaBy Emma Niewald, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
After interning with the National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia this summer, I feel more committed than ever to pursuing a career in the field of Rule of Law in the Balkans when I graduate next year. Though my path to a career in this space hasn’t been direct, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of. I’m a political consultant with 12 years of policy experience, ten of which I’ve spent in electoral politics. I graduated from Austin College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and French in 2012. After graduation, I interned with nonprofits in Washington, D.C., including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Center for National Policy.
Continue reading From Texas Campaigns to Legislative Strengthening AbroadBy 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.
Continue reading Fighting Corruption and Advancing Civic Engagement in North MacedoniaBy 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.
Continue reading Supporting Election and Governance Reform Efforts in PanamaBy Paulina Licon, Undergraduate student in the UT School of Social Work
As part of my internship with International IDEA in Panama this summer, I was privileged to join a team from the Electoral Tribunal of Panama in evaluating a groundbreaking nationwide project, the Elecciones de la Niñez y la Adolescencia del 2024. This project introduced a unique voting simulation, where the youth of Panama were not only educated about the electoral process but also asked to vote for four fundamental values: honesty, respect, tolerance, and equality. The aim was to instill in students the importance of these values in their candidate selection, promoting thoughtful civic engagement.
Continue reading Evaluating Youth Election Engagement in Rural PanamaBy Alejandra Vadillo, Undergraduate student in the UT Mexican American Studies Department and Communications Department
This summer, I had the privilege to carry out my fellowship with International IDEA in Panama City, Panama. Working closely with the Institute of Democratic Studies (INED) at the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, I collaborated with some of the sharpest minds in the field to tackle complex issues facing Panama’s democracy, as well as others around the world.
Continue reading Building Strong Democracies: Elections, Lawmaking, and Civic EducationBy Andreana Faucette, Undergraduate student in the UT Spanish and Portuguese Department, Psychology Department, and Liberal Arts Honors Program
When I accepted the offer to join the University of Texas’ Government Department and International IDEA in Panama City for a summer, friends and family alike routinely prodded me with the same series of questions, akin to: “Why are you going to Panama?” Many mistakenly thought I was headed here for vacation, while many more simply failed to grasp my reasoning for choosing to spend a summer interning in a place away from home. On the surface, the answer was fairly straightforward. I had spent time there previously, have family ties to the region, and enjoyed my previous visit to the country. But more importantly than that, I was eager to learn, and found this fellowship program to be a unique opportunity to do just that. Over the course of my time interning for International IDEA at the Electoral Tribunal’s Institute of Democratic Studies, though, I’ve surpassed even my own expectations of learning more about the country by integrating myself into the Panamanian community.
Continue reading Representation, Rights, and ResistanceFellows in the University of Texas at Austin’s Embedded Scholars Program won an award for their research conducted in the spring Embedded Scholars class. Fellows Andreana Faucette and Paulina Licon won the 2024 Patman Center Research Award for Advancing Democracy, which recognizes “exceptional insight and dedication to advancing the cause of democracy.” Their research was conducted in the spring class taught by Ashley Moran on democratic constitutional design that prepares students for field work in democracy assistance.
Continue reading Embedded Scholars Win Democracy Research AwardThe 2024 Embedded Scholars conducted research this spring on a range of pressing challenges and opportunities for democracies today. Students shared their research this week, giving presentations on the role of public participation, civic and constitutional culture, and democratic resilience in preserving and advancing democracy.
Continue reading Fellows Share Research on Participation, Culture, and Democratic ResilienceBy Alejandra Jimenez, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department
Surrealism refers to a form of visual art that produces incongruous imagery by means of irrational juxtapositions. Some argue that surrealism revolutionizes the human experience, as magic and beauty can be found in the unexpected and uncanny. In a similar way, my time in Chile has been just that—pleasantly unexpected.
Continue reading Chile SurrealistaBy Matt Martin, PhD student in the UT Government Department
The time I’ve spent in Panama has been nothing short of a privilege. To work alongside International IDEA and have a peek into the world of democratic and electoral assistance was invaluable, both on a professional and personal level. Most of my time was spent at the Tribunal Electoral (“Electoral Tribunal,” or TE), where International IDEA-Panama is located. The TE houses not only the country’s civil registry, national ID directorate, and specialized electoral body but also the Instituto de Estudios Democráticos (“Institute of Democratic Studies,” or INED). I worked alongside the director of INED, Salvador Sánchez, and several other researchers on his talented team. Their kindheartedness made me feel more than welcome as an intern.
Continue reading Constitutional Performance in PanamaBy Kaitlin Passafiume, PhD candidate in the UT Spanish and Portuguese Department
As I wrap up the initial month of working with International IDEA at the Electoral Tribunal in Panama, I reflect on the diverse experiences that I have enjoyed in a short period of time. My completion of this internship signals an ability to successfully pivot from an academic background, using my critical humanities formation for public-facing work going forward. I remain convinced that cultural considerations have their place in governmental and extra-governmental projects, and I am heartened to find that the public arena in Panama considers and even encourages diverse perspectives.
Continue reading First-Ever Symbolic Youth Voting Campaign in Panama
