Democracy Lab

Four Arab Democrats and A Constitutional Scholar Walk Into a Bar

Some free advice for my MENA friends.

BY DANIEL LANSBERG-RODRIGUEZ | MAY 6, 2013

Outfoxing the Oligarchs in Latvia

How a tiny Baltic republic succeeded in taking its oligarchs down a peg.

BY GABRIEL KURIS | MAY 6, 2013

Finally, Good News from Haiti

Haiti is no economic success story. But that may be about to change.

BY ROBERT LOONEY | MAY 3, 2013

Ghostbusters

Malaysia’s pro-democracy activists might not win Sunday’s election. But they could win the battle against electoral fraud.

BY DEBORAH LOH | APRIL 30, 2013

They Were 'Gentle, Loving, and Tender, Like Girls'

A conversation with the mother of the Tsarnaevs.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | APRIL 26, 2013

It's Not Business As Usual At the World Bank

The improbable controversy over the World Bank's flagship business survey.

BY DALIBOR ROHAC, MARIAN L. TUPY | APRIL 26, 2013

Weren't Buddhists Supposed to Be Pacifists?

Their religion may stress peace, but some Buddhists are showing that they’re entirely capable of violence in the name of faith.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | APRIL 23, 2013

The Monks Who Hate Muslims

Buddhist monks have been major instigators of the recent violence against Muslims in Burma.

BY FRANCIS WADE | APRIL 22, 2013

The Invisible War

Russians weren't paying much attention to their own war on terror. But that was before the attacks in Boston.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | APRIL 19, 2013

Why I'm Flying Back to Malaysia to Vote

When absentee voting just isn’t good enough.

BY HUI MEI LIEW KAISER | APRIL 18, 2013

Cramming for That Next Big Test in Democracy

In Burma, members of the pro-democracy opposition are struggling to school themselves in the ins and outs of a liberal society. But so far it's an uphill battle.

BY ERIC RANDOLPH | APRIL 16, 2013

Why Bart Simpson Drives the Venezuelan Authorities Nuts

Venezuela's leaders give new meaning to the phrase “¡Ay, Caramba!”

BY THOR HALVORSSEN , GARRY KASPAROV | APRIL 12, 2013

Russia's Olympic City

Russia is pushing ahead with its projects for the 2014 Winter Olympics. But not everyone is happy.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | APRIL 11, 2013

Bahrain's Continuing War on Doctors

The Bahraini government needs to stop targeting medical professionals who dare to treat injured protesters. 

BY RULA AL-SAFFAR | APRIL 10, 2013

The Princess of Reform

Why the daughter of Malaysia’s opposition leader embodies the hopes of the democratic reform movement.

BY DEBORAH LOH | APRIL 10, 2013

Ten Questions for the New BRICS Bank

The great emerging markets want to start their own bank. But it doesn't seem like they've really thought it through.

BY ISOBEL COLEMAN | APRIL 9, 2013

Why Dictators Don’t Like Jokes

Pro-democracy activists around the world are discovering that humor is one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against authoritarianism.

BY SRDJA POPOVIC, MLADEN JOKSIC | APRIL 5, 2013

Mongolia's Growing Pains

Mongolia's blue skies may soon be darkening. A key challenge: Putting the mining companies in their place. 

BY PETER MURRELL | APRIL 5, 2013

Make Way for the Hybrids

Yes, institutions are important. But institutions that actually work are even better.

BY MATT ANDREWS | APRIL 2, 2013

The Chechen Boss

Chechnya’s president is building power in Russia. And his thugs aren't listening to the FSB.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | APRIL 1, 2013

Beyond Business: Rethinking Microfinance

Banking can do more good for the poor than only helping entrepreneurs.

BY TIMOTHY OGDEN, JONATHAN MORDUCH | MARCH 28, 2013

Beggaring Thy Neighbors

Poorer countries no longer have rich ones to blame for inequalities in trade. Now they're the ones pulling the strings.

BY GREG RUSHFORD | MARCH 25, 2013

The Dead Man's Trial

The posthumous trial of an anti-corruption crusader.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | MARCH 22, 2013

The Tip of the Democracy Spear

The U.S. military doesn’t exactly have an unblemished record when it comes to promoting democracy. Is there a way to change that?

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 21, 2013

Policing Electoral Violence in India

How India's elections administration used “vulnerability mapping” to stop trouble before it happened.

BY MICHAEL SCHARFF | MARCH 21, 2013

Egypt's Financial High Noon

Cairo needs to tackle its subsidy addiction. And yes, it’s not going to be easy.

BY ISOBEL COLEMAN | MARCH 21, 2013

Lessons Learned from Kenya’s Election

Kenya’s general election wasn’t perfect -- but it was peaceful. Here’s why.

BY KRISTIN M. LORD , JACQUELINE WILSON | MARCH 19, 2013

Why the Color Revolutions Failed

Toppling dictators isn't enough. Successful revolutions also embrace the rule of law.

BY MELINDA HARING, MICHAEL CECIRE | MARCH 18, 2013

Mali's Bad Trip

Field notes from the West African drug trade.

BY ANDREW LEBOVICH | MARCH 15, 2013

Cooling Ethnic Conflict in Guyana's Elections

Guyana's 2001 presidential election left the country deeply divided along ethnic lines. In 2006, they decided to try something new.

BY VARANYA CHAUBEY, AMY MAWSON, GABRIEL KURIS | MARCH 13, 2013