By Josie Mandrea, UT Civics Honors major
I started work at CID Gallup in Panama City right at the beginning of June. Their office sits on the 18th floor of a massive building right in the center of the city. On day one, the staff welcomed us with a wonderful orientation where they explained the value of public opinion research and survey design. In the first few days, we acclimated to the office, getting to know the other employees and the beloved cats, Simba and Estrellita.
Continue reading Encuestas in Panama City →
By Elizabeth Donaway, Ph.D. Student in Government at the University of Texas at Austin
This summer I had the opportunity to work with the National Democratic Institute in Albania, where I focused on the relationship between civic education, civic participation, and democratic institutions. Much of my work centered on the Albanian Parliament and its Parliamentary Institute, a nonpartisan institution that supports members of Parliament through research, library services, and civic education programming. Through this work, I came to appreciate that democracy assistance is not only about elections, parties, or formal institutional reform. It is also about helping citizens understand that democratic institutions belong to them and helping institutions create meaningful ways for citizens to participate.
Continue reading Civic Education and the Prospects for Democracy: Reflections from Albania →
A research exchange program at the University of Texas at Austin supporting student work abroad in democratic and constitutional development