[Discussion] CALL FOR APPLICATIONS- Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy & Development 2006

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From: CDDRL Summer Fellows <ssfddadmin@stanford.edu>

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS- Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy & Development 2006

Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and Development 2006

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Freeman
Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, California
invites policy makers and activists from countries undergoing political,
economic and social transitions to participate in its second annual summer
fellows program on democracy, development, and the rule of law to be held July
31 - August 18, 2006 at Stanford University on its California campus.

This program offers a unique approach to studying the ways in which democratic
institutions and institutions that foster economic development can be
established and strengthened in varying country contexts. In contrast to other
programs of democracy promotion that seek to transfer ready made models to
countries in transition, the Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and
Development program provides a comparative perspective on the evolution of
established democratic practices as well as a conceptual background into issues
of democracy and good governance. The curriculum draws on the combined expertise
of Stanford scholars and practitioners in the fields of political science,
economics, law, sociology, and business and emphasizes the links between theory
and practice.

While traditional programs focus either on democratization, economic
development, or the rule of law, the Stanford Summer Fellows on Democracy and
Development program endeavors to locate the points of interaction among these
areas. Ideas and learning flow two ways. Participants are exposed to
the knowledge of Stanford faculty and, in turn, they bring their country and
professional experiences into the seminars to help faculty and one another
develop case-specific methodologies for addressing actual problems of democratic
and economic development.

In 2005, the program's inaugural year, 32 policy-makers from 28 countries
participated as Fellows. Each week, instructors and fellows focused on a
different theme - democracy, development, and rule of law, respectively - and
studied the policy implications of the interrelations between the workings of
political, economic, and legal institutions in theory and practice. Discussions
were led by Stanford faculty and scholars at the forefront of research at the
junction of democratic advancement, economic growth, and issues surrounding the
establishment of rule of law and human rights. Prominent leaders of research and
development institutions and social movements, such as the National Endowment
for Democracy, enhanced the weekly agenda. The daily seminars were complemented
with field trips to local government institutions, NGOs, and business
organizations.

Participants: Eligibility Criteria:

This program is aimed at early to mid-career policy-makers, academics, and
leaders of civil society organizations (such as representatives of trade unions,
non-governmental organizations, the media, business and professional
associations) who will play important roles in their country's democratic,
economic, and social development. We anticipate recruiting a group of 25-30
individuals dedicated to democracy and development promotion within their home
countries (particularly in, but not limited to, the regions of the Middle East,
Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and other parts of the former
Soviet Union).

Successful applicants will be proficient in spoken and written English and will
have academic and practical credentials necessary to benefit fully from the
course and actively contribute to programmatic discussions. The ideal course
participant will have extraordinary motivation, at least three to five years of
experience in a relevant field of democratic development, and a keen interest in
learning and sharing knowledge and experiences in transforming their respective
countries.

CDDRL hopes that over time the participants in this annual program will form the
core of a global network of public intellectuals and activists who are working
on issues of democracy, development, and the rule of law.

Funding: Stanford will pay travel, accommodation, living expenses, and visa
costs for the duration of the three-week program for a certain portion of
applicants. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to supply some or all of
their own funding from their current employers, international non-governmental
organizations, etc.

Application procedures

Please follow the instruction for applying found at:
http://cddrl.stanford.edu/summerfellows/

In addition to the completed application form, you must provide at least two 
but no more than three letters of recommendation from people who know you in
your capacity of a development worker.

Deadline: January 6, 2006

Request for information may be addressed to Ganka Hadjipetrova, SSFDD
Program Coordinator, via e-mail at ssfddadmin@stanford.edu or via phone at
(+1 650) 736-4277.

About CDDRL:

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford
University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) seeks to
promote innovative and practical research to assist developing countries and
transitioning societies in the design and implementation of policies to foster
democracy, balanced and sustainable development, and the rule of law. Scholars
affiliated with CDDRL explore how best to harmonize the pursuit of each of these
goals in the interest of helping to produce states and societies that are freer,
richer, more law-abiding, and more transparent.

The Center also supports specialized teaching, training, and outreach activities
to assist countries struggling with problems of political, economic, and
judicial reform, constitutional design, economic performance, and corruption to
improve their prospects for success. An important dimension of the Center's work
is the identification and cultivation of institutional arrangements at all
levels of society to encourage greater responsibility and accountability in
decision-making, both public and private.

The Center joins four other constituent centers of the Freeman Spogli Institute
for International Studies at Stanford University and is founded in partnership
with the School of Humanities and Sciences, the Graduate School of Business
(GSB), and Stanford Law School.



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