April 2002

Volume 13, Issue 2

Free

Terror, Islam, and Democracy

Although Islamist terror groups invoke a host of religious references, the real source of their ideas is not the Koran but rather Leninism, fascism, and other strains of twentieth-century thought that exalt totalitarian violence.

Elections Without Democracy

Argentina: Crisis and Democratic Consolidation

Argentina made headlines around the world last December as its presidency changed hands no fewer than four times in less than two weeks. Lost amid the chaos, however, were hopeful signs that the country has now turned the corner of democratic consolidation.

A New Look at Federalism

A New Look at Federalism: Italy Decentralizes

Italy has long mixed great local and regional diversity with a unitary approach to governance. In October 2001, however, Italian voters approved a series of changes to their country’s Constitution that could mark a decisive turn toward federalism.

Bulgaria’s Royal Elections

Last year, Bulgarians elected their newly returned former king as prime minister and then, in a shocking upset, ousted their incumbent president. What do these results portend for the future of Bulgarian democracy?

Electoral Systems for Divided Societies

Political scientists have long theorized that the use of “preferential” election systems can help promote successful conflict management in divided societies. As it turns out, evidence from five real-world cases supports this conclusion.

Election Watch

Reports on elections in Chile, Costa Rica, Gabon, The Gambia, Honduras, Madagascar, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zambia.

Documents on Democracy

Excerpts from: a resolution adopted by the Third International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees; Eduardo Duhalde’s first address as president of Argentina; the opening address of Hussain Sinjari a a seminar entitled “Prospects for Democracy in Iraq”; the introductory speech of the European Convention by Convention chairman, former French president Valéry Giscard-d’Estaing.