On October 17, Admiral (Ret.) Dennis Blair, former Director of National Intelligence and Director of the CCD Project on the Role of the Armed Forces in Democratic Transition, was featured at a forum hosted by Marquette University. Admiral Blair spoke at length about the project, describing how the militaries of democratic countries can influence and support the development of democracy around the world. Blair’s visit was sponsored by the Helen Bader Foundation and was offered in partnership with the Department of Political Science in the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences.

Admiral Blair was also interviewed about the project on the Lake Effect program on Milwaukee Public Radio. Full audio of the interview is available on the WUWM website.

Pictured (left to right): Roel von Meijenfeldt (ISC/CD Member and Chair of the European Partnership for Democracy) and Pierre Vimont, (Executive Secretary General of the EEAS)

The Brussels Roundtable on Democracy in Europe

Under a grant from the United Nations Democracy Fund, and in partnership with the European Partnership for Democracy, CCD helped organize a 2-day meeting on issues related to Europe's increasing role in supporting democracy efforts around the world. Held in Brussels, Belgium from May 25-26, this final regional roundtable brought together nearly 40 international civil society representatives to discuss the situations in Egypt, Belarus, and the role of the European Union in response to the Arab Spring.

To read agenda for this conference, click here.

To read CCD's preliminary report on the Brussels Roundtable, please click here.

Panelists from plenary session on the role of governments, civil society and businesses in partnering to strengthen democracy.
Pictured: John Sullivan (CIPE) and
Michael Hershman (The Fairfax Group)

The Role of the Private Sector in
Support of Democracy

Hosted by the Organization of American States and in partnership with the Community of Democracies Working Group on Poverty, Development & Democracy, co-chaired by the Governments of Chile and Italy, the Center for International Private Enterprise and the Council of the Americas, CCD helped organized a half-day seminar on the role of the private sector in support of democracy in the Americas. Over 80 participants gathered to discuss the relationship between the private sector and democracy support, including such distinguished panelists as First Lady of El Salvador Vanda Guiomar Pignato, Michael Hershman, Founder of Transparency International, Berlin, Scott Miller, Director of Global Trade Policy for Proctor & Gamble, among others.

To read the final report from this meeting,
please click here.