The Institute of Democracy and Cooperation is a think-tank based in Paris and funded by Russian NGOs and charitable foundations.  It aims to be part of the debate about the relationship between state sovereignty and human rights; about East-West relations and the place of Russia in Europe; about the role of non-governmental organisations in political life; about the interpretation of human rights and the way they are applied in different counties; and about the way in which historical memory is used in contemporary politics.

The Institute broadly defends a conservative outlook on human rights and international relations.  It believes that the nation-state is the best framework for the realisation of human rights and that "humanitarian intervention" is often counter-productive.  It is attached to the classical understanding of international law based on sovereignty and non-interference.  At the same time, it believes that the political order should be underpinned by a moral perspective, and specifically by the Judeo-Christian ethic which unites both the Eastern and Western parts of the European continent.

The Institute aims to promote debate on these issues by inviting speakers to give their opinion and to share their expertise.  At its meetings, it always encourages all sides of the argument to be put.