مشاهدة فيلم the belko experiment

Excerpts from Robin Wright’s 1996 Journal of Democracy article “Islam and Liberal Democracy: Two Visions of Reformation”

These excerpts pertain to Rachid al-Ghannouchi and the challenge of blending Islam and democracy.

October 3, 2011

Hope and Fear in Syria

• Elizabeth Parker-Magyar

The brutal regime of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad fell in a week. Syrians have been preparing for this moment for years.

The Return of Robert Fico

• Tim Haughton
• Darina Malová

The perennial Slovak politician practices a hardnosed, vengeful form of politics. It is also bad news for the future of Slovakian democracy.

What Happened to South Korea’s Democracy?

• Gi-Wook Shin

The quick reversal of President Yoon’s martial-law order is being celebrated as a democratic victory. But the problems run deeper than one man. What comes next?

Our Favorite Books of 2023

New works on China, Russia, political philosophy, English history, and much more graced our shelves this year. Here are the JoD staff’s favorite books of the year.

Why Did Argentina Just Elect a Radical Right-Wing Political Outsider?

• Virginia Oliveros
• Emilia Simison

By choosing Javier Milei, Argentinian voters didn’t just reject the status quo. They have sent their country hurtling in an unknown direction.

Breaking Out of Xi’s Great Prison

• Guoguong Wu

Chinese citizens from Urumqi to Shanghai took to the streets, blank sheets of white paper in hand, to denounce the CCP and call for change. Xi Jinping’s repression and zero-covid lockdowns has united the public in empathy and anger.

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 Militaries Support Presidential Coups

• Sharan Grewal

If you want to understand why generals support a presidential power grab, then you need to understand the logic that motivates them. Why they leave the barracks — and what we must do to get them to stand down.

Why Vladimir Kara-Murza Gave Up His Freedom

• Pedro Pizano

The Russian dissident journalist and activist knew if he returned to Russia he would be imprisoned or worse. But he was plagued by one question that compelled him to go.

Breaking Han Silence

• Tenzin Dorjee

China’s recent protests marked a crucial milestone: The mainstream Chinese public, at home and abroad, finally spoke up for the Uyghurs and their plight.

How Qatar Became a World Leader in Sportswashing

• Sarath K. Ganji

The government has spent billions preparing to host the 2022 World Cup. Never mind the abusive labor practices and human rights violations. It’s betting that your love of the “beautiful game” will make you more fond of this tiny Gulf state, too.

Viktor Orbán’s Newest Tool for Crushing Dissent

• Sándor Ésik

He has created a new office with massive investigatory powers that are vaguely defined and leave everyone on edge. In other words, it’s classic Orbán.

Democracy’s Frontline Defenders

• Fernanda Buril
• Erica Shein

Across the globe, the people who run our elections are being undermined, targeted, and attacked. Here is how to shore them up—and protect democratic institutions, too.

Welcome to Manila’s Game of Thrones

• Richard Javad Heydarian

The struggle between the Marcos and Duterte clans isn’t just a battle between two houses. It is becoming a proxy fight between the United States and China for the future of the Indo-Pacific. 

Why Romania Just Canceled Its Presidential Election

• Veronica Anghel

The Romanian government is trying to guard against Russian election interference. But such a drastic, unexpected, and last-minute move risks undermining people’s faith in democracy.

Kenya’s Shaky Handshake Deals

• Alexander Noyes

The country has a long history of power-sharing deals that are sealed with a handshake. The truth is that this type of political bargaining typically does more harm than good.

How the Far Right Almost Destroyed Romanian Democracy

• Veronica Anghel

Romania’s democracy just survived a near-death experience, but it may be more vulnerable going forward. How far can leaders go in defending democracy without compromising their claim to represent the people?

The Man Who Would Oust a Dynasty

• Marlon Ariyasinghe

A few years ago Anura Kumara Dissanayake led a struggling political party with bleak prospects. Now he is Sri Lanka’s newly elected president. The hardest work may still lie ahead.

Why Macron’s Big Gamble Worked

• Jean-Yves Camus

The French president risked it all to hand the far right a stinging loss. But the celebration can’t last long. If the country is to avoid greater political chaos, voters must be encouraged to think about broader coalitions that go beyond a narrow left-right divide.