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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 Election Observers Are Human-Rights Defenders

• Gerardo de Icaza

Election observers are the first line of defense for democratic rights and freedoms, and they work in some of the most challenging places. They deserve the same protections as human-rights defenders.

People Say Democracy Isn’t Working

• Joel Day

So, why don’t they want to fix it?

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.

Why Poland’s Liberals Lost

• Jarosław Kuisz
• Karolina Wigura

Political blunders, distrust of elites, and Donald Tusk’s inability to deliver on his promises helped make an unknown, far-right former bodyguard the country’s next president. Worse, it will be far harder now to safeguard Polish democracy.

Election Results—October and November 2023

Reports on elections in Argentina, Ecuador, Gibraltar, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, and Switzerland.

Why Putin’s Days Are Numbered

• Vladimir Milov

The system that Russia’s autocrat built wasn’t designed to survive the pressures it is now facing.

Where Conspiracy Theories Come From

• Scott Radnitz

There is nothing inherently menacing or antidemocratic about conspiracy theories. They can even be a source of amusement. The trouble comes when political elites weaponize them to invite violence.

What Putin Fears Most

• Robert Person
• Michael McFaul

Forget his excuses. Russia’s autocrat doesn’t worry about NATO. What terrifies him is the prospect of a flourishing Ukrainian democracy.

How to Flip the Script on the Authoritarian Playbook

• Filip Milačić

Aspiring authoritarians share some common tactics for trying to dismantle a democracy. But recent cases also reveal lessons on how to defend against these attacks and slow the threat of democratic backsliding.

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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

Why Vladimir Putin Is Still Afraid to Say Alexei Navalny’s Name

• Vladimir Milov

Russia’s dictator lives in fear. He knows the Russian people don’t support him. He can’t even muster a street rally without bribes or threats. No number of fake elections will change that.

The Demise of Senegalese Democracy

• Bamba Ndiaye

President Macky Sall has called off his country’s presidential election just weeks ahead of the vote. His unconstitutional decree will not only keep him in power, but threatens to throw Senegal into violent chaos.

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.

Is Democracy Surviving the “Year of Elections”?

• John K. Glenn

Millions of voters are casting ballots in a string of elections across the globe. At the midyear point, how well is democracy holding up?

Africa’s Leaders for Life

• Alexander Noyes
• John Reece

The continent’s aspiring dictators are attacking term limits with a vengeance, finding new ways to avoid handing over power. But citizens are overwhelmingly against it — and can help keep their leaders in check.

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.

For Xi Jinping, the Economy Is No Longer the Priority

• Guoguong Wu

Beijing’s focus has been on strong and steady economic growth for decades. But China’s leader has just put an end to that era. For Xi, it’s only about power—at home and abroad.

How Democracy Can Win Out in Sudan

• Sharan Grewal

The country just got a new chance to restore its democratic transition. Here’s how they can ensure that Sudan stays on the right path.