Many political scientists focus predominantly on the existence of competitive elections to classify whether countries are or are not democracies, says political scientist Elizabeth Stein, the inaugural Mark Helmke Postdoctoral… Read more »
Gen. Raheel Sharif, Pakistan’s powerful army chief, steps down Tuesday at the height of his popularity. But as he makes way for a successor, Sharif also leaves behind an army… Read more »
The optimism experienced at popular prodemocracy mobilization in 2011 has turned to dismay and worry at the metastasizing violence that characterizes today’s Middle East and North Africa, according to Real… Read more »
This week’s protests in Malaysia have again highlighted the political pathologies associated with rampant corruption and kleptocracy. Even in advanced liberal democracies like the UK, kleptocrats are using London’s property… Read more »
A decade-long upward trend in African citizens’ demand for democracy has ended with a downward turn since 2012, according to a new Afrobarometer analysis. But despite these warning signs of… Read more »
Egypt has never been a welcoming place for civil society groups, but the past several years have seen an unrelenting crackdown on non-governmental organizations, note Nancy Okail and Allison L…. Read more »
Democracy today is facing greater challenges than at any time since the fall of communism a quarter of a century ago; greater than at any time, in fact, since the… Read more »
With democracy playing defense against illiberal mutations, resurgent authoritarianism, violent extremism and new forms of populism, it is all the more imperative to promote pluralism and defend democratic standards… Read more »
An escalating conflict in Muslim areas of western Myanmar has emerged as a big test for both Aung San Suu Kyi and international powers who have long lauded her as… Read more »
U.S. President Barack Obama warned today against a rise in nationalism and populism – from both Left and Right – noting that a backlash against globalization had stoked illiberal movements…. Read more »
