Many organizations in the peace and security community are now focusing on the 2008 elections. As the first step toward facilitating collaboration among organizations and across sectors, the PSI Implementation Team conducted a survey of more than 200 groups involved with PSI in order to get a better sense of the election-related activities of the peace and security community. The results of this survey provide a snapshot of where different groups within the peace and security community are concentrating their efforts and where there is room for collaboration. PSI members are encouraged to use this "roadmap" to explore new alliances focused on the 2008 elections.
Examples of opportunities for collaboration include sending a combined questionnaire to the presidential candidates to determine their positions on shared priority areas (e.g., U.S. nuclear weapons policy, Complex 2030, engaging Iran) and collaborating on bird-dogging efforts when candidates come to targeted states or localities. Groups may also look to identify partners in developing briefing materials on priority issue areas, doing joint fundraising drives (where tax status allows), or developing a joint database for campaign staff contact information.
The 11-question survey was conducted over two weeks in May 2007 and was filled out by 57 respondents, or 22% of the groups involved with PSI. The respondents represented various sectors, including grassroots groups, advocacy groups, funders, faith-based organizations, think tanks, and research-oriented organizations. National, local, and regional groups were represented.
Please click here to view the results of this poll.
