ИПИ Библиотека

The East Central Europe Information Exchange collects and disseminates information on exchange and training programs undertaken with American private and governmental funding. This study focused on programs related to democratization and civil society. An introductory section defines the parameters, background, and research methodology; lists the funding agencies involved; and summarizes some of the survey results and conclusions. Next, the section titled "Perspectives" presents four essays: (1) "Exporting Legal Reform and the Rule of Law to Central and Eastern Europe" (G.H.W. Baker), which highlights assistance efforts devoted to legal reform; (2) "U.S. Support for Nongovernmental Organizations" (Katherine Cornell Gorka), which reviews the history of U.S. assistance to nongovernmental organizations in East Central Europe; (3) "Building Democracy at the Local Level: The Case of Poland" (Joanna Regulska), which illustrates with a case study many aspects of a program of assistance to local governments; and (4) "Promoting and Protecting Human Rights: A Model for Technical Assistance to NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe" (Edwin Rekosh) presents a model for assisting the development of non-governmental organizations fostering human rights. Section 2 of the report includes a sample project survey; and various types of program data, such as organization by primary field of activity, type of project, funding, and contact person. Appendixes contain a list of Soros Foundation and Democracy Network programs and 12 references.

Since 1989, various private foundations and governmental agencies in the United States (US) have embarked on projects to assist the economic and political transition in East Central Europe (ECE). A substantial portion of funding activity has been devoted to training programs that support the development of democratic institutions. Together with their partners in the region, these US public and private initiatives have sought to lay the ground-work for the development of ECE institutions that support the rule of law and civil society.

Mark Lazar

Mark S. Lazar, Vice President for Scholarship Programs and International Operations at the Institute of International Education, oversees the work of the Institute's global network of offices around the world and supervises the scholarship and training programs that the Institute administers on behalf of corporations, foundations, individuals, international organizations and US government agencies. Programs include: the Ford Foundation Global Travel and Learning Fund, the GE Foundation Scholar-Leaders Program, the Japan-IMF Fellowships and more than a dozen Children of Employee scholarship programs for major international corporations including AIG, Harman International and Lockheed Martin.

Prior to this position, Mr. Lazar served as Executive Director of Scholarship and Training Programs, Director for International Operations and Assistant Director for Development at the Institute. He was also Regional Director of IIE's office for Central and Eastern Europe, based in Budapest, Hungary from 1995-98. Before joining IIE in 1994, he served as a program coordinator for the Soros Foundations and the Central European University.

Mr. Lazar holds Master's degrees from New York University in Urban Planning and Columbia University in European History. He has a Bachelor's degree in History from University of Wisconsin-Madison.