By Meera R Hatangadi, Graduate of the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department and Plan II Honors
While Armenia was completely new to me before starting this program, I left Armenia with reminiscences of fascinating work, warm colleagues, gorgeous landscapes, beautiful culture, and memories to last a lifetime. As a part of the Embedded Scholars program, my fellow scholars and I interned with NDI Armenia. We had the privilege of not only working alongside intelligence and dedicated NDI employees, but also being able to have unique interactions with democratic institutions in Armenia.
Continue reading Elections and the Future of Democracy in Armenia →
By Ellie Alford, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department
I’ve never liked tomatoes. I tried them a few times when I was little, hated the taste, and have adamantly avoided them ever since. I could not envision myself eating one willingly, much less enjoying it. But, life has a funny way of surprising you.
Continue reading Eating Tomatoes and Supporting Democracy in North Macedonia →
By Eva White, Undergraduate student in the UT Slavic and Eurasian Studies Department and Government Department
Having long been immersed in academic study of the post-Soviet space, interested in energy policy and nuclear transition, and seeking to grow my Russian language skills in an immersive environment, I was completely thrilled to be selected for the National Democratic Institute’s fellowship program in Yerevan, Armenia. I boarded the plane, a 23-hour travel day ahead of me, excited to address challenges to democratization and explore international relations and domestic politics in Armenia as an NDI research fellow. Beyond that, I hoped to have the opportunity to nurture my personal academic interest in energy security. Concomitantly, I was looking forward to diving into the history, culture, and atmosphere of a region entirely new to me and learning as much as possible outside of the office as well.
Continue reading Democracy and Energy in the Former Soviet Union →
By Veronica Martin, Graduate of the UT Government Department
My work at CID Gallup has been marked by a significant amount of creative autonomy, an abundance of meticulous political research, and an evolving adoration for democracy and national security. At once, we were split into two groups with the task of developing a research study on one of two topics: the aging Panamanian population or the “sandwich generation” of women caring for both children and aging parents. Given an impressive amount of autonomy with our studies, our group of four ventured out to crack open the pensions and retirement systems of Panama by analyzing demographic statistics, literature, and fiscal data. While the research was quite dense, I can now answer any question any skeptic may have about Panamanian retirement (when it comes up in normal everyday conversation, which is often).
Continue reading National Security, Smuggling, and US-Panama Relations →
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.
Continue reading Supporting Election and Governance Reform Efforts in Panama →
By Frances Parra, Undergraduate student at the UT McCombs School of Business
As my time in Panama came to an end, I was tasked with the professional culmination of my internship, as well as the goodbyes to the place and people I called home for the entirety of the summer. My research for International IDEA had explored topics such as political risk, governance, and foreign policy in Latin American countries. Although my primary focus was Latin America, my investigations delved into the foreign relations of Latin American countries with regions around the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America. Overall, it sought to understand these topics as they pertain to democratic governance and society in Latin America today and in the future.
Continue reading Understanding Political Risk →
By Francisco Alvarado-Quiroz, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
What we know collectively as “Latin America” contains, depending on whom you ask and how you count, some 21-plus countries. The landscapes contain high-altitude cities, untouched jungles, and beautiful beaches. While you could get away communicating in Spanish throughout most of the region, there are an uncountable number of languages and dialects.
Continue reading The State of Democracy in Latin America →
By Francisco Alvarado-Quiroz, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
I knew very little about Panama before arriving in early June. From what I remembered from classrooms and books, there was a canal the French started, and the Americans finished. Carter gave it back. The United States invaded in 1989, and now the capital city is awash with investment money building a skyline akin to Miami or Hong Kong. There is, of course, a lot more to the story. And in my four weeks here the team at IDEA has shown us Panama’s long effort to form a durable democratic government, and the United States’ involvement.
Continue reading The Pull of History →
By Frances Parra, Undergraduate student at the UT McCombs School of Business
As an International Business student, I have eagerly awaited the chance to study and work abroad in a meaningful way. I realized that such work would take me out of my comfort zone and test my professional and language skills. It is with those feelings that I approached my position at International IDEA’s offices in Panama.
Continue reading Foreign Policy by Day, Culture by Night →
A research exchange program at the University of Texas at Austin supporting student work abroad in democratic and constitutional development