Institutions of Democracy - 1983 - National Endowment for Democracy
In a 1982 speech at the Palace of Westminster, President Ronald Reagan called on the global democratic community to develop the infrastructure needed to promote democracy worldwide and confront authoritarianism. This vision took shape in the United States as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), established in 1983. Today, NED remains the largest and most prominent democracy promotion organization globally, supporting thousands of individuals and organizations in their struggle for democracy.
In this recording, Carl Gershman, who served as NED’s president from its founding in 1984 until 2021, recounts the story of the organization’s creation. At a time when democracy promotion was an untested and controversial concept, NED faced skepticism and challenges. However, through persistent effort, the organization quickly demonstrated its value, earning and maintaining bipartisan support from Congress, which provides its funding.
Carl delves into the historical precedents and inspirations for NED, such as the Congress for Cultural Freedom, Germany’s political foundations (Stiftungen), and the American labor movement, particularly the AFL-CIO. He reflects on the early challenges of convincing skeptics that NED’s mission was to support the global struggle for democracy—not as a tool for U.S. social engineering—and its ongoing relevance in the post-Cold War era amid rising authoritarianism. Ultimately, Carl highlights the enduring lessons from NED’s founding and evolution: the importance of bipartisanship, transparency, and grounding the organization’s mission in solidarity with courageous individuals worldwide fighting for freedom and democracy.
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