9 July 2019 'slogan' 'self-deprecating' 'quotes' 'campaign'

Transforming the Arab World’s Protection-Racket Politics

New JoD Available Now

Essays on Eygpt and Syria in latest issue of the Journal of Democracy, as well as Francis Fukuyama and Marc F. Plattner on governance and democracy & essays on the “Arab Spring,” Paraguay, Malaysia, & more.

October 15, 2013

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships

The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program at the NED invites applications for fellowships in 2014–15. 

October 8, 2013

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

The Pitfalls of Power Sharing

• Alexander Noyes

People are calling for a so-called unity government to stem the violence in Mozambique. But there is a better way to set the country on the right course.

Will the German Center Hold?

• Michael Bröning

Although Germans flooded the polls, the country is deeply polarized and politically fragmented. Germany’s centrists need to deliver on voters’ concerns. If they don’t, the far-right AfD is waiting in the wings.

Why Sanctions Don’t Work Against Dictatorships

• Agathe Demarais

From Putin’s invasion to Kim’s nuclear saber rattling, the West has punished the world’s worst regimes. But have sanctions missed their targets?

How to Dictator-Proof Your Money

• Alex Gladstein

Cash is king, even if you are an activist leading a democratic movement against some of the world’s worst dictators. That’s why Bitcoin has quickly become the currency of choice for dissidents working everywhere.

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.

Macron’s Dangerous Game

• Thomas Regan-Lefebvre

France is burning through prime ministers and Macron’s political gambles are going bust. The French president needs to change his tactics before it’s too late.

Why Germany’s Far Right Is Winning Big

• Michael Bröning

The far-right Alternative for Germany is no longer a mere protest party. It’s tapping into widespread discontent and is surprisingly popular with young voters. Even more, it is reshaping the political future of Germany.

Is Ukraine Too Corrupt to Join the EU?

• Maria Popova

Despite the country’s steady progress fighting corruption, even in wartime, skeptics warn it’s not enough. But this is just an excuse. Their real concern is how Putin’s Russia would respond.

Two Summits, Two Wests

• Jarosław Kuisz
• Karolina Wigura

Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska underscored how they see the world in the same way, while highlighting the deepening divisions that are weakening the Western democratic alliance.

Ecuador’s Democratic Breakdown

• Will Freeman

The small Latin American country was a brief democratic bright spot. But it appears to have fallen victim to a clash between populists and anti-populists, without a democrat in sight.

What the Freedom Agenda Can Still Teach Us

• Peter Feaver
• William Inboden

Many derided it as naïve idealism, but the vision undergirding the Freedom Agenda offers lessons for the biggest global tests of our time.

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.

Why TikTok Is a Threat to Democracy

• Aynne Kokas

The popular Chinese-owned app is enabling Beijing to collect data on people nearly everywhere. Not only can such platforms track people’s preferences and whereabouts, but they give the Chinese government control over a powerful tool for shaping people’s worldview.

Maduro Can Only Rule Through Fear and Terror

• Paola Bautista de Alemán

The Venezuelan strongman lost the election and everyone knows it. He has nothing left to offer but violence and repression. It will be his undoing.

Gay Rights: Why Democracy Matters

Maduro Can Only Rule Through Fear and Terror

Venezuela’s opposition defeated Nicolás Maduro in the country’s July presidential election, but the Venezuelan strongman refuses to relinquish power. The Journal of Democracy essays below, free for a limited time, chronicle Venezuela’s struggle against Maduro’s authoritarianism — and what makes this election different.