Nayib Bukele self-deprecating slogan July 2019 article

France Rallies to Resuscitate the Republic

• Dan Slater

The French president made a big bet, and the far right lost.

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

How One Small Change to the Way We Vote Could Do a World of Good

• Kimana Zulueta-Fülscher

The world’s liberal democracies are deeply polarized. Here’s how we could help rebuild the political center.

Why the German Far Right Is Beginning to Win

• Michael Bröning

For years, they were a fringe vote. Now they are broadening their agenda, tapping into voter frustration, and getting Germans to favor them once again.

Ukraine Can’t Hold Elections During the War. Does It Matter?

• Anna Romandash

Russia’s brutal ongoing invasion is preventing Ukrainians from holding a presidential election and the campaigning that comes with it. What does that mean for Ukraine’s democracy?

How Taiwan Should Combat China’s Information War

• Tim Niven

Beijing assaults Taiwan with a nonstop barrage of conspiracy theories and lies to undermine people’s faith in democracy — and China’s efforts are getting more sophisticated. Taiwan must do even more to fight back. 

People Say Democracy Isn’t Working

• Joel Day

So, why don’t they want to fix it?

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.

Orbán Is Isolating Hungary from the World

• Sándor Ésik

The Hungarian leader appears to be working overtime at fraying the country’s ties with even its longstanding friends and allies — and the strain is beginning to show.

The Puzzle of the Chinese Middle Class

4/23 Event: “The Authoritarian Resurgence”

"The Authoritarian Resurgence: China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela" panel discussion featuring JoD authors Javier Corrales, Andrew J. Nathan, Lilia Shevtsova, and Frederic Wehrey. (4/23, 12-2 pm, at NED)

April 14, 2015

Why Ukraine Is Critical to Rebuilding Our Democratic Consensus

• Marc F. Plattner

The case for liberal democracy remains powerful. It may get its biggest boost in the near term from success on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Putin’s Other Failed War

• Roman Badanin

The Russian leader declared war on his country’s independent journalists. But Russian media outsmarted him by taking their operations overseas. They are now reaching more people than ever before.

Why Ukraine’s Millions of Displaced People Will Define Its Future

• Danilo Mandić

Most are Russian speakers from the east, and once harbored sympathies for Moscow. If the country embraces them, they could form the bedrock of a free and open Ukrainian society.

The BJP Claimed This Financial Tool Would Clean Up Indian Politics. It Did the Opposite.

• Vipul Mudgal

“Electoral bonds” were supposed to make political contributions transparent. Instead they became a form of legalized corruption, funneling huge sums and making the political playing field even more uneven.

Why Burma’s Democratic Forces Are Winning

• Damon Wilson

Burma’s democratic resistance has made impressive gains against the country’s corrupt junta. But they need help from the world’s democracies if they are to succeed and create an enduring peace.

Senegal’s Remarkable Win for Democracy

• Alexander Noyes
• Louison Sall

In February, the West African country appeared to be on the cusp of chaos as its president tried to seize power for himself. How Senegal became one of 2024’s biggest democratic success stories.

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?

Why the French Strike

• Moshik Temkin

Why are the French protesting this time? Emmanuel Macron is imposing deeply unpopular reforms, and it’s one of the only ways left to check an arrogant and tone-deaf president.

Why Pakistan Always Seems on the Brink of Collapse

• Ahsan I. Butt

The military has spent decades trying to impose order on Pakistani politics. It has led to chaos.