Center for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria)
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This article is about the Center for the Study of Democracy in Bulgaria
For the other institution by the same name, in the United States, see the Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary's College of Maryland, USA.
Founded in late 1989, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) is an interdisciplinary public policy institute dedicated to the values of democracy and market economics, based in Bulgaria. The CSD is a non-partisan, independent organization fostering the reform process in Bulgaria through impact on policy and civil society, and is one of Bulgaria's most prominent NGOs with a well-established reputation for the high quality of its research.
Objectives
CSD objectives are:
• to provide an enhanced institutional and policy capacity for a successful European integration process;
• to promote institutional reform and the practical implementation of democratic values in legal and economic practice;
• to monitor public attitudes and serve as a watchdog of the institutional reform process in the country;
• to strengthen the institutional and management capacity of NGOs in Bulgaria.
The CSD aims to "build bridges" by bringing together social actors and cementing new alliances. Born as a think-tank, the Center for the Study of Democracy has evolved into policy development through dialogue and partnership. Bringing cutting-edge solutions to transition problems is the CSD's way of keeping the middle ground between academia and social practice.
The CSD has pioneered in several areas traditionally perceived as inviolable public property, such as anti-corruption institutional reform and national security. The CSD's belief is that bringing a new culture of cooperation and trust in a milieu of inherited fragmentation and opacity is equally rewarding as the achievement of concrete social goals.
Programs
Economic
The Economic Program was established with the CSD’s founding in late 1989 to pioneer the development of a competitive private sector governed by transparent and sound public and private policies, capable through democratic partnership of successfully integrating the country’s economy into the EU.
European
Bulgaria’s integration into European institutions has accompanied the overall process of reform since 1990. With Bulgaria’s EU association status in effect since early 1995, the need emerged for expertise and policy analysis facilities to support the inauguration of a long-term accession strategy.
Law
Since its establishment in the early spring of 1991 the Law Program has substantially contributed to the development of legislative and judicial reform in Bulgaria with its efforts focused on three main areas of activities: drafting new legislation, concept development and provision of comments and recommendations on proposed laws and regulations.
Vitosha Research
Vitosha Research is specialized in market, social, political, advertising and media research. Since its first independent pre-election and post-election surveys in 1990, Vitosha Research has built up a reputation as one of the leading research agencies in Bulgaria, providing services in line with international standards.