The International Republican what?

By John Johnston
Managing Editor                                                                                    

“Democracy building --- that’s my line of work now,” Judy Van Rest said clearly.  Said quietly.  Said with conviction recently to members of the Boca Raton Republican Club.

Van Rest is executive vice president of the International Republican Institute.

The what?

The International Republican Institute (IRI).

Still haven’t heard of it?

You’re not alone – which is why Judy Van Rest spends part of her busy schedule educating Americans on yet another of Ronald Reagan’s legacies.

The IRI is 25 years old, Van Rest said, “but not a lot of people know about our organization.”

The IRI is one of four parts of the National Endowment For Democracy.

The what?

The National Endowment For Democracy (NED), Van Rest said, noting, “The idea came from Ronald Reagan.”

Reagan “so truly believed in this country,” she said, “and very much felt that we had a role to help other countries realize the same opportunities.”

The NED was created to “proactively help burgeoning democracies,” Van Rest said, “but not from the US government in a transparent way.”

In fact, the NED, and it’s four agencies, are a not for profit group not connected with the US government.

Four agencies?

That’s right, Van Rest said. Legislation introduced in 1983 created NED, “and it was independent and non governmental.  Out of that effort, four institutions emerged:

• The IRI (International Republican Institute).

• National Democratic Institute

• Center For International Private Enterprise

• American Solidarity Center

Democrats and Republicans on the same team?

Primarily yes, Van Rest said, noting that the larger aim is democracy building, not party message selling.

Reagan’s goal was to “foster the infrastructure of democracy,” she said. He believed “freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few,” in turn fostering NED as a “crusade for freedom that would engage the hearts and minds of the next generation.”

The IRI is now in 72 countries, she said, “working with political parties, how to run campaigns, and how to recruit candidates.”

“So many democracies when they start out is to establish a group,” she said, “and then they don’t know what to do. They have no idea about grassroots politics.”

Democracy trainers come from all walks of life and from throughout the US, and from other countries as well, i.e., central and eastern Europe, she said, adding that the world now has 120 electoral democracies, or 60 percent of the world’s governments. That was only 40 percent in 1944, she said, “and we know that the work of (NED) and IRI have a lot to do with it.”

For Van Rest personally, what she witnessed in the Ukraine was “a very emotional thing for me.”

She said that in 1994, those testing out the idea of democracy said, “this is not for us.  This is an American thing.”

Returning 10 years later in 2004, Van Rest said she saw “rallies, candidates, democracy.”

“They had taken control of their lives.”

Withdrawal?

Following several audience questions which touched on women in politics, and the continuing problems in Afghanistan, the evening concluded with Van Rest being asked “what impact would it have if the US pulled out of Iraq wholesale?”

“For a variety of reasons it would just be a disaster,” Van Rest said.

She said unilateral withdrawal would “open up the area for various terrorists groups to take over.”

“More to the point,” she added, “it’s our duty to stay there, and help the people who are struggling.  In the eyes of folks around the world, it would diminish our reputation tremendously.”