Why Does the Kremlin Bother Holding Sham Elections?

  • Margarita Zavadskaya
Everyone knows that Russia’s election is a fraud. The problem is no dictator ever feels safe enough, and Putin thinks even a fake election will signal to his cronies that he’s still in charge.

Why Vladimir Putin Is Still Afraid to Say Alexei Navalny’s Name

  • Vladimir Milov
Russia’s dictator lives in fear. He knows the Russian people don’t support him. He can’t even muster a street rally without bribes or threats. No number of fake elections will change that.

Is Central America Doomed?

  • Mateo Jarquín
  • Rachel A. Schwartz
  • Kai M. Thaler
Of course not. But the region’s democratic hopes are fighting an uphill battle against corruption, crime, and a violent past.
July 2022, Volume 33, Issue 3

How Viktor Orbán Wins

  • Kim Lane Scheppele
The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.

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October 2023, Volume 34, Issue 4

AI and Catastrophic Risk

AI with superhuman abilities could emerge within the next few years, and there is currently no guarantee that we will be able to control them. We must act now to protect democracy, human rights, and our very existence.

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January 2024, Volume 35, Issue 1

Hindu Nationalism and the New Jim Crow

While the histories of white supremacy and Hindu supremacy are different, their political objectives are much the same. The BJP is forging a regime of exclusion and oppression as brutal as the Jim Crow South. Only India’s voters can reverse its advance.

Latest Online Exclusives

Why Putin Isn’t Forever | Damon Wilson
The Kremlin’s political theater shouldn’t be mistaken for an election or symbol of stability. It’s a sign of Putin’s weakness and the country’s descent into a deeper tyranny.

Will Kuwait’s Next Parliament Be Its Last | Sean L. Yom
The Gulf kingdom has been a rare democratic experiment. But gridlock and the Emir’s mounting impatience with Kuwaiti politics may be on the cusp of bringing it to an end.

Why Egypt Is Growing More Unstable Fast | Shady ElGhazaly Harb
The economy is spiraling, public frustration is mounting, and the regime is becoming more repressive. The next time Egyptians come to the streets, they will be looking for more than promises and free elections.

News & Updates

How Women Make the World Safe for Democracy

March 2024

On International Women’s Day 2024, the Journal of Democracy celebrates the achievements of all women and highlights the transformative power of women’s political participation and activism.


Is Egypt About to Erupt?

February 2024

As President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi marks his tenth year in power, Egypt is teetering on the brink of chaos. The following Journal of Democracy essays catalog Egypt’s commitment to democracy over the years and Sisi’s descent into the personalistic, repressive, and impulsive leader that rules the country today.


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The Rise of Political Violence in the United States

In a deeply polarized United States, ordinary people now consume and espouse once-radical ideas and are primed to commit violence.

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How Viktor Orbán Wins

The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.

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How Zelensky Has Changed Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky is far more than a brave wartime leader. He began changing the tenor and direction of Ukrainian politics long before the people made him their president.