On July 29, CIPE testified before the House Commerce Committee on "How the Internet Promotes Free Market Philosophies and Democratic Principles Overseas." John D. Sullivan, CIPE's Executive Director, told the Committee that the Internet serves as a key tool in CIPE's efforts to communicate with its partners abroad, to disseminate information worldwide on privatization and democracy, and to act as a bridge among think tanks, entrepreneurial associations, and private sector groups around the globe. CIPE's Web site plays a vital role in this effort, registering an average of 1,000 "hits" per day (400,000 hits from more than 120 countries over the past year).
Sullivan quoted Eugen Jurzyca, head of the Center for Economic Development in Slovakia, a CIPE partner: "Fidel Castro once said, 'Socialism in Central Europe failed because people received more information than was necessary'." Today, Sullivan reported, the Internet is providing policymakers in emerging economies with the key information they need to make educated decisions. He cited some examples among CIPE partners:
China - CIPE and the China Center for Economic Research (CCER) at Beijing University are establishing the China Economic Network. The Internet-based Network will enable Chinese economists to communicate domestically and internationally about key reform issues.
Egypt - Through use of the Internet, CIPE is working with the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) to overcome the monopoly that the Government of Egypt has traditionally had on economic data. ECES uses the Internet as its primary source of data and economic research.
Romania - CIPE and the International Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (ICES) in Bucharest are using the Internet for networking among the 30 non-governmental organization (NGO) members of the Strategic Alliance of Business Associations.
Russia - CIPE's partnership with the Russian Federation's Chamber of Commerce and Industry relies upon the Internet to create a network of business-oriented chambers throughout the Federation. In the same vein, the Center for Political Technologies (CPT) is using its Web site and its National Economic Library to disseminate research materials, including the renowned book on Financial Industries Groups (also known as the "book on oligarchs").
Sullivan highlighted CIPE's very successful use of the Internet through its award-winning Web site, the electronic Forum on Economic Freedom, and CIPE's quarterly magazine, Economic Reform Today. The Internet has enabled CIPE to provide business leaders and policymakers in emerging democracies with vital information in a reliable, cost-effective way. Part of the Forum, the Economic Freedom Network, links CIPE to more than 100 partner organizations and other reform-oriented groups around the world.
At "Organizing for Success: Strengthening Women's Business Associations," a high-level conference co-sponsored by CIPE last year, IBM's "Cyber Cafe" provided conference participants with an opportunity to visit the on-line sites of women's business organizations worldwide.
In his closing remarks, Sullivan quoted Walter Wriston, former Chairman and CEO of Citicorp, on the computer technology revolution: "Instead of validating Orwell's vision of Big Brother watching the citizen, the Third Revolution enables the citizen to watch Big Brother."
Sullivan concluded, "Thousands of new organizations and leaders of new democracy movements and champions of private enterprise now have a tool the Internet that can push the information revolution to an entirely new level, a level that will benefit not only America, but the world."
An audio recording of the full testimony is available on the CIPE Website, www.cipe.org, and can be accessed through our Vivo Active file.