The Institute of Democracy and Cooperation

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.