On October 23, 2003, Partners conducted a successful symposium in Washington, DC titled "Managing the Challenge of Change in Evolving Democracies." The day included small table discussions on the challenges facing emerging democracies. Partners' Center representatives were present to add their perspective to the discussions. The afternoon session included a stimulating and enlightening panel dialogue on democracy.

Nearly ninety participants from 20 countries attended, including diplomats, business leaders, change practitioners, and policy makers. The Symposium, hosted at the Meridian International Center was co-sponsored by 14 embassies and organized in collaboration with the Business Council for International Understanding with support from the GE Foundation.

Facilitated roundtables, in which attendees discussed the critical issues all countries face when building democracy and a market economy, provided extensive dynamic interaction during the Symposium. Professionals representing Eastern Europe, Latin America, South Asia, North America, and the Middle East exchanged information on the problems confronting their countries and offered ideas and techniques from their own experience. Out of these roundtable discussions and the plenary sessions emerged three common groups of challenges: governance, economic development, and human rights.

A Program detailing the day's activities and participants can be viewed by clicking here.

The Symposium Report was designed to “advance the dialogue” by presenting these three themes in the context of tools and case studies exemplifying how countries have addressed these issues. Please click here for the report.