Democracy Promotion: An Objective of U.S. Foreign Assistance Page: 4 of 23
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Democracy Promotion: An Objective of U.S. Foreign Assistance
Introduction
Congress has long expressed interest in supporting democratic governance and related rights in
other countries as a means of projecting American values, enhancing U.S. security, and promoting
U.S. economic interests. More than $2 billion annually has been allocated from foreign assistance
funds over the past decade for democracy promotion activities, including support for good
governance (characterized by participation, transparency, accountability, effectiveness, and
equity), rule of law, and promotion of human rights. While there has been bipartisan support for
the general concept of democracy promotion assistance, policy debates in the 115t Congress may
question the consistency, effectiveness, and focus of such foreign assistance. With the Trump
Administration indicating that democracy and human rights promotion might not be among its
foreign policy priorities, and requesting a 32% cut in democracy promotion assistance in the
FY2018 foreign assistance budget, this debate may take on new vigor.
The 115t Congress may consider the impact of the Trump Administration's requested foreign
assistance spending cuts on U.S. democracy promotion assistance, review the effectiveness of
democracy promotion activities, evaluate the various channels available for democracy
promotion, and consider where democracy promotion ranks among a wide range of foreign policy
and budget priorities. This report aims to support those efforts by providing information on the
history of democracy promotion as a foreign assistance objective, the role of the primary U.S.
agencies administering such programs, and funding details and trends, as well as issues of
potential relevance to Congress.1
Definitions and Examples
Democracy promotion may be defined in many ways, but it generally encompasses foreign policy
activities intended to encourage the transition to or improvement of democracy in other countries.
U.S. foreign aid to promote democracy may focus on electoral democracy, with a narrow
emphasis on free and fair elections, or reflect a more liberal concept of democracy, which
includes support for fundamental rights and standards that some argue make democracy
meaningful.
U.S. democracy promotion assistance refers to U.S. program descriptions and funding levels for
democracy promotion activities funded through the international affairs (function 150) budget, as
reported under the Governing Justly and Democratically (GJD) objective in the annual
International Affairs Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) submitted by the Administration to
Congress.2 The GJD objective (also sometimes called Democracy, Human Rights and
Governance-DRG) is defined as including activities
to advance freedom and dignity by assisting governments and citizens to establish,
consolidate and protect democratic institutions, processes, and values, including
participatory and accountable governance, rule of law, authentic political competition,
civil society, human rights, and the free flow of information.3
1 The report focuses on U.S. assistance activities, which are only part of U.S. democracy promotion activities. Others
include diplomatic efforts, international broadcasting, international educational and cultural exchanges, economic
sanctions, military aid, and other policy areas related to international engagement.
2 The international affairs budget does not include Department of Defense programs that may be counted as democracy
promotion aid in other data sources.
3 CRS communication with Department of State's F Bureau, May 18, 2016.Congressional Research Service
1
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Lawson, Marian L. & Susan B. Democracy Promotion: An Objective of U.S. Foreign Assistance, report, May 31, 2017; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1020840/m1/4/?q=%22foreign+aid%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.