Summer 1990, Volume 1, Issue 3
Three Paradoxes of Democracy
While democracy is the most admired form of government, maintaining it requires contending with its contradictions.
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Summer 1990, Volume 1, Issue 3
Third World Communism in Crisis: The Fall of Afro-Marxism
Read the full essay here.
Winter 1990, Volume 1, Issue 1
The Crumbling of the Soviet Bloc: The Democratic Revolution
Read the full essay here.
Winter 1990, Volume 1, Issue 1
Tiananmen and Beyond: China’s Great Leap Backward
This past spring the world looked on in wonder as millions filled the streets of Beijing and 80 other Chinese cities, defying the Communist regime and demanding democracy.
January 1995, Volume 6, Issue 1
Democracy’s Future: The Primacy of Culture
Democratic consolidation in the East will face the most difficulties in the cultural sphere. Democracy’s fate will depend on how the West handles its own sociocultural problems.
January 2025, Volume 36, Issue 1
A Strange Defense of Climate Democracy
The democracy versus “eco-authoritarianism” dilemma is false. The answer is more and better democracy.
January 2020, Volume 31, Issue 1
The New Competitive Authoritarianism
In recent years competitive authoritarianism has emerged in some countries with relatively strong democratic traditions and institutions.
April 2025, Volume 36, Issue 2
The Rise of Legislative Authoritarianism
Democratic backsliding is usually seen as something driven by presidents, but under certain circumstances elected legislatures can cause it, too. Legislative hegemony is a growing danger.
July 2012, Volume 23, Issue 3
Election Watch
Reports on elections in Armenia, Belize, Burma, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Lesotho, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, and Timor-Leste.
April 2021, Volume 32, Issue 2
The Miracle and Tragedy of the 2020 U.S. Election
The covid-19 pandemic nearly upended the U.S. election, but after a rocky primary season changes were made to save it. Alarmingly, however, a large portion of voters have rejected the result. The challenge of overcoming lies about a “rigged” election is great.
October 2015, Volume 26, Issue 4
Election Watch
Reports on elections in Burundi, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago.
July 1999, Volume 10, Issue 3
Election Watch
Reports on elections in Algeria, Armenia, Benin, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Nepal, Panama, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey.
July 2010, Volume 21, Issue 3
Liberation Technology
The Internet, mobile phones, and other forms of “liberation technology” enable citizens to express opinions, mobilize protests, and expand the horizons of freedom. Autocratic governments are also learning to master these technologies, however. Ultimately, the contest between democrats and autocrats will depend not just on technology, but on political organization and strategy.
July 2020, Volume 31, Issue 3
A Glimpse of the Way Forward
For all the concern over authoritarianism’s advance, the competence of governance may be what determines the next chapter in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship.
October 2015, Volume 26, Issue 4
Decentralizing for a Deeper, More Supple Democracy
Can decentralization deepen democracy or is it doomed to weaken the state? If well designed, decentralization can have a positive impact on national unity, conflict mitigation, policy autonomy, service delivery, and social learning.
October 2013, Volume 24, Issue 4
Tracking the “Arab Spring”: Yemen Changes Everything… And Nothing
A long-ruling strongman president has been unseated by popular unrest and a negotiated transition is under way, but to many Yemenis this all appears to be a change more of appearance than of substance.