Subject: Political culture
April 1998, Volume 9, Issue 2
Surveying Postmaterialism
A review of Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies, by Ronald Inglehart.
January 1998, Volume 9, Issue 1
Will China Democratize? Sources of Resistance
Read the full essay here.
January 1998, Volume 9, Issue 1
Will China Democratize? The End of Communism
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October 1997, Volume 8, Issue 4
Islam’s Democratic Essence?
A review of Islam and Democracy, by John L. Esposito and John O. Voll.
July 1997, Volume 8, Issue 3
Public Opinion in New Democracies: Where Are Postcommunist Countries Going?
Read the full essay here.
July 1997, Volume 8, Issue 3
Public Opinion in New Democracies: Political Ambivalence in South Korea and Taiwan
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July 1997, Volume 8, Issue 3
Public Opinion in New Democracies: Latin America’s Smiling Mask
Read the full essay here.
July 1997, Volume 8, Issue 3
The East Asian Prospect: A “Recipe” for Democratic Development
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July 1997, Volume 8, Issue 3
The East Asian Prospect: The Illusion of Exceptionalism
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April 1997, Volume 8, Issue 2
Hong Kong, Singapore, and “Asian Values”
The Editors’ introduction to “Hong Kong, Singapore, and ‘Asian Values.'”
April 1997, Volume 8, Issue 2
Hong Kong, Singapore, and “Asian Values”: Governance That Works
Read the full essay here.
April 1997, Volume 8, Issue 2
Hong Kong, Singapore, and “Asian Values”: An Alternative View
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April 1997, Volume 8, Issue 2
Constraints & Opportunities in the Arab World
Read the full essay here.
January 1997, Volume 8, Issue 1
Where is Russia Headed? Toward Stability or Crisis?
Read the full essay here.
October 1996, Volume 7, Issue 4
Soft Authoritarianism in Malaysia and Singapore
Read the full essay here.
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.
July 1994, Volume 5, Issue 3
Rethinking Civil Society: Pluralism in the Arab World
Read the full essay here.
July 1994, Volume 5, Issue 3
Latin America’s Critical Elections: Brazil at an Impasse
Read the full essay here.
April 1994, Volume 5, Issue 2
Is Russian Democracy Doomed? Toward Presidential Rule
Read the full essay here.
January 1994, Volume 5, Issue 1
The Axis Powers 50 Years Later: Japan’s New Politics
Read the full essay here.
January 1994, Volume 5, Issue 1
The Axis Powers 50 Years Later: Germany—A New “Wall in the Mind”?
Read the full essay here.
January 1992, Volume 3, Issue 1
Old Paradigms & New Openings in Latin America
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1991, Volume 2, Issue 4
Political Corruption: Nigeria’s Perennial Struggle
Read the full essay here.
Fall 1990, Volume 1, Issue 4
Debate—Presidents vs. Parliaments: The Centrality of Political Culture
Read the full essay here.
Spring 1990, Volume 1, Issue 2
Islamic Liberalism
A review of Islamic Liberalism: A Critique of Development Ideologies, by Leonard Binder.
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.
Winter 1990, Volume 1, Issue 1
Tiananmen and Beyond: The Resurgence of Civil Society in China
The remarkable events of April and May 1989 revealed the degree to which civil society has reemerged in Communist China. The ruthless campaign of suppression that began on June 4 revealed in turn the degree to which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) remains unwilling and unable to accept the reality of nascent civil society in…
Winter 1990, Volume 1, Issue 1
Tiananmen and Beyond: Peering Over the Great Wall
Our goal at present is the thorough modernization of China. We all have a compelling sense of the need for this. There is a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction with the status quo among people in all walks of life.
How the Duterte Clan Is Remaking the Marcos Playbook
Strongman nostalgia, conspiracy theories, and lies. It’s a powerful blend that keeps populists in power. In the Philippines, political clans have weaponized these messages against each other.
Is South Korea’s New President Good for Democracy?
South Koreans have elected Lee Jae-myung president. Will he be a pragmatic democratic reformer? Or will he continue the polarizing political warfare of recent South Korean leaders?
People Say Democracy Isn’t Working
So, why don’t they want to fix it?
How South Korea’s Next Leader Should Handle Kim Jong-un
South Korea is about to elect a new president. North Korea has changed in recent years. Seoul’s approach to the Kim regime must change to reflect new risks — and Korea’s democratic strength.
The End of the Duterte Dynasty?
The ICC arrest of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is a shocking blow for the Duterte clan, and the Marcos family isn’t letting up. Is this the political last stand for the Dutertes?
How a Pastor Found the Courage to Defy a Dictator
Evan Mawarire never thought of himself as a revolutionary. In a gripping new memoir, he tells the story of how he went from a humble clergyman to the leader of a movement that helped the Zimbabwean people find their voice.
Botswana’s Misunderstood “Miracle”
The country’s 2024 presidential contest was a big surprise, as voters elected a new party for the first time. Despite decades of dominant-party rule, a strong democratic culture has long been ingrained in Botswana.
What Happened to South Korea’s Democracy?
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?
Why History Is Repeating Itself in Thailand
Thai politics appears to be in a loop, with the military keeping people’s democratic hopes under wraps. But there is reason to believe the streets won’t be quiet for long.
Orbán Is Isolating Hungary from the World
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.
South Africa’s Watershed Election
The ANC lost its majority for the first time, but populist forces were held at bay.
Why Iran Is Entering a Dangerous Moment
The country’s recent elections revealed deep fissures in Iranian society and there is already growing disillusionment with the new president. With mounting economic worries, Iran is in a volatile state.
Welcome to Manila’s Game of Thrones
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.
Where Conspiracy Theories Come From
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.
The Rise of Political Violence in the United States
The attack on Donald Trump is one of the worst instances of political violence in recent years. Such violence is the result of a moment in which people begin to see their political opponents as enemies instead of citizens of a different political stripe.
Why Philippine Politics Resembles a Modern-Day Telenovela
Want to distract the public? Little works better than family feuds ripped from soap opera plotlines. That’s how the Marcos and Duterte clans keep people glued to the drama while crowding out democratic reform.
Democracy and Political Violence
As political polarization deepens in the world’s democracies, political violence is on the rise. And in the wake of these acts, conspiracy theories often bloom. We offer three essays that look at these forces that threaten to upend democracy, and what must be done to overcome them.