Education for democracy
The promotion of civil society in East Central Europe
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The most important task of external bodies involved in the promotion of democracy in East Central Europe is the provision of support for civil society. The German party foundations and other comparable organizations from continental European countries cooperate with established local partners in their political education work. The Anglo-American foundations are very well funded, and concentrate their attention on training centres and umbrella organizations from civil society. German foundations seek to bring about close cooperation between society and the state, whereas American foundations want to strengthen civil society as an independent force which can control the state. The promotion of democracy by external bodies should be more closely coordinated in future, but the different approaches should not be abandoned.
(Osteuropa 8/2005, pp. 83–93)