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IREX in Africa

Description: 

Although IREX began its work in the Soviet Union more than 40 years ago, today we implement a wide portfolio of programs in 41 countries in Africa. More than 20% of our program budget goes to African civil society actors, journalists, teachers, youth, and community leaders. Our programs draw on local expertise, NGOs and staff to deliver sustainable solutions well-suited for the African context.

Although IREX began its work in the Soviet Union more than 40 years ago, today we implement a wide portfolio of programs in 41 countries in Africa. More than 20% of our program budget goes to African civil society actors, journalists, teachers, youth, and community leaders. Our programs draw on local expertise, NGOs and staff to deliver sustainable solutions well-suited for the African context.

Publication Date: 
May 25, 2012
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The Potential of the Advertising Industry in Georgia to Sustain an Independent Media (Research Brief)

Description: 

The primary focus of the six-week research project in Tbilisi, Georgia, was to investigate the current status and potential of the country’s advertising industry to support the further development of a pluralistic and independent media.

The primary focus of the six-week research project in Tbilisi, Georgia, was to investigate the current status and potential of the country’s advertising industry to support the further development of a pluralistic and independent media. A secondary objective was to ascertain the effectiveness of recent governmental legislation requiring television and radio stations to file an annual report to the Georgia National Communications Commission (GNCC) listing individuals who were owners of the stations.

Author: 
Dennis L. Wilcox
Publication Date: 
May 24, 2012
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Embassy Policy Specialist (EPS)

Notes from UnderGrad Pakistan Newsletters

Description: 

A forum for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program-Pakistan community to express views and share experiences.

Notes from UnderGrad is a forum for the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program-Pakistan community to express views and share the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program participant and Alumni experience.  The newsletter is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and produced by IREX.

 

For inquiries, please contact ugradpk_newsletter@irex.org

 

Publication Date: 
May 18, 2012
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UGRAD-PK fellow at Kansas State
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UGRAD-PK fellow at Kansas State

The Limits of State-Building: The Politics of War and the Ideology of Peace

Description: 

In post-civil war international administrations in Bosnia, Cambodia, East Timor, and Kosovo, scholars and international officials expected that there would be sufficient authority and resources to build strong state institutions in areas such as the police, military, elections, and revenue.

In post-civil war international administrations in Bosnia, Cambodia, East Timor, and Kosovo, scholars and international officials expected that there would be sufficient authority and resources to build strong state institutions in areas such as the police, military, elections, and revenue. However, only a few efforts left strong institutions, while many efforts failed and contributed to violence and underdevelopment.

Author: 
Andrew Radin
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Regional Policy Symposium

The Determinants of Anti-Corruption Reform in the Republic of Georgia

Description: 

Given its history of high levels of corruption, the progress that the Republic of Georgia has made in its anti-corruption reforms since the Rose Revolution of 2003 is especially noteworthy.

Given its history of high levels of corruption, the progress that the Republic of Georgia has made in its anti-corruption reforms since the Rose Revolution of 2003 is especially noteworthy. This research project seeks to explain how the Georgian administration was able to effect successful anti-corruption reforms in the country, especially since similar reforms have faced difficulties elsewhere.

Author: 
Peter Nasuti
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Regional Policy Symposium

Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking in Bosnia: An Exploratory Analysis of the Training Needs of the Border Police

Description: 

Post-conflict societies like Bosnia-Herzegovina, with their turbulent political, social, and economic conditions, tend to have high levels of sex trafficking. Because border patrol officers are usually the first officials to come into contact with sex trafficking victims, many of these officers in Bosnia have received training on sex trafficking issues, but little is known about the effectiveness of such training.

Post-conflict societies like Bosnia-Herzegovina, with their turbulent political, social, and economic conditions, tend to have high levels of sex trafficking. Because border patrol officers are usually the first officials to come into contact with sex trafficking victims, many of these officers in Bosnia have received training on sex trafficking issues, but little is known about the effectiveness of such training.

Author: 
Lisa Muftic
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Regional Policy Symposium

The “Utilities War” in Ukraine: A Case Study on Corruption in Critical Support Infrastructure

Description: 

Non-payment of utility bills, evasion of payment through a variety of corruption schemes and fraud, and unauthorized reallocation of the costs of consumed utilities are widespread in Ukraine among the public and businesses, often with the involvement of local and central government officials.

Non-payment of utility bills, evasion of payment through a variety of corruption schemes and fraud, and unauthorized reallocation of the costs of consumed utilities are widespread in Ukraine among the public and businesses, often with the involvement of local and central government officials. This research examines the relationships between the public, government, and the private sector around the provision of public utilities in Ukraine.

Author: 
Olena Leipnik
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Regional Policy Symposium

Brothers and Clients: Heroin, Turkey and the Making of the Albanian “Mafia”

Description: 

Despite the growing prominence of Albanian organized crime in global illicit activities, little investigation has been done into the origins of the Albanian "mafia" and its relationship with other criminal groups.

Despite the growing prominence of Albanian organized crime in global illicit activities, little investigation has been done into the origins of the Albanian "mafia" and its relationship with other criminal groups. This research investigates the history of Albanian involvement in drug smuggling and distribution networks based in Turkey and their role in the European heroin trade.

Author: 
Ryan Gingeras
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Crime and Corruption's Role in Russian Business Conflicts

Description: 

This research investigates the conditions under which Russian firms rely on criminal violence and corruption to protect property rights, and the conditions under which they abandon illegal practices in favor of law and formal institutions. 

This research investigates the conditions under which Russian firms rely on criminal violence and corruption to protect property rights, and the conditions under which they abandon illegal practices in favor of law and formal institutions. The study draws on interviews with Russian firms, lawyers, and private security agencies in Moscow and Barnaul as well as a survey of enterprises across eight Russian cities.

Author: 
Jordan Gans-Morse
Publication Date: 
May 16, 2012
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Regional Policy Symposium

Is Russia's Rule of Law Expanding? A Case Study in Restorative Justice (Research Brief)

Description: 

Twenty years after the law “On the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression” was passed, it serves as  the major artifact of transitional justice in the Russian Federation. As such, its record serves as a barometer of the Russian government’s commitment to addressing the Soviet regime’s abuses, as well as of Russian citizens’, jurists’, local and federal elected officials’, and state bureaucrats’ evaluation of how well the law has met the need to address Soviet violations of human rights and the consequent injuries to those who suffered those violations.

This Short-Term Travel Grant was used as a planning trip to finalize research arrangements with partner scholars and research institutions for my 20-year-history of the 1991 law “On the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression” in Russia. The icing on the cake, desired but not anticipated, would be conducting some interviews and examining private archives. I was able to achieve all of my research objectives and to confirm that my preliminary hypotheses about the major phases of the law’s record were correct.

Author: 
Cathy A. Frierson
Publication Date: 
May 9, 2012
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Short-Term Travel Grants
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