Democracy Lab

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

The Tangled Tale of Malaysia's Dirty Battleground State

How an ex-British prime minister’s sister-in-law, a headhunter’s grandson, dodgy PR firms, and a Malaysian kingpin are colliding in a fight over the future of democracy.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 13, 2013

Political Tremors in the Caucasus

There’s a distinct whiff of desire for political change wafting through the Caucasus.

BY THOMAS DE WAAL | MARCH 8, 2013

Doctor in a Desperate Land

Why an American has chosen to bind his life to Sudan.

BY JEFFREY BARTHOLET | MARCH 7, 2013

The House That Chavez Built

Hugo Chávez subordinated the needs of Venezuela’s economy to the imperative of keeping himself in power. Now the job of cleaning up falls to his successor.

BY JAVIER CORRALES | MARCH 7, 2013

The Democracy Boondoggle in Iraq

The U.S. spent billions promoting democracy in Iraq. Now the official verdict is in: It was all for nothing.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 5, 2013

Russia's New Vigilantes

How anti-immigrant passions are shaping Russia's political scene.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | MARCH 4, 2013

Stalin Lives

The Soviet dictator died six decades ago. But Russians have yet to say farewell.

BY MASHA LIPMAN | MARCH 1, 2013

Not All Elections Are Worthy of the Name

Sorry, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel. Just because Iran holds elections doesn’t mean that its government represents the people.

BY JEFFREY GEDMIN | MARCH 1, 2013

The Kenya Puzzle

In Kenya, progress and dysfunction go hand in hand.

BY DANIEL BRANCH | FEBRUARY 28, 2013

There is no Indonesia Model for the Arab Spring

Yes, Muslim-majority Indonesia has made a successful transition to democracy. But no, that doesn’t make it an example for the Arab Spring.

BY TOM PEPINSKY | FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Morales Walks the Populist High Wire

Morales talks big populist talk. Here's how it's actually working out. 

BY ROBERT LOONEY | FEBRUARY 26, 2013

A Place of One's Own

Land is more than real estate. In many parts of the world, it’s the key to survival, belonging, and identity.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 26, 2013

The Inconvenient Diplomat

A farewell to the man who spoke out against Latin America’s leading bullies.

BY JAVIER EL-HAGE, THOR HALVORSSEN | FEBRUARY 22, 2013

It's Not About Us

Forget about the “war on terror.” The next few decades will be dominated by the bitter divide within Islam itself.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 20, 2013

Putin Declares War on Sleaze

Vladimir Putin is vowing to make a dent in the eternal Russian problem of corruption. Skepticism is warranted.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | FEBRUARY 20, 2013

Venezuela's New Era

Venezuelans are contemplating the possibility of a new life without Hugo Chávez. But can the existing system continue in the absence of its creator?

BY PHIL GUNSON | FEBRUARY 19, 2013

The Curse of Stability in Central Asia

The autocrats of Central Asia like to tout the virtues of stability. But they're really making excuses for decay.

BY SARAH KENDZIOR | FEBRUARY 19, 2013

Forget the Flowers and Candy

Images from the women's rights rallies that have been taking place around the world this week.

BY NEHA PALIWAL | FEBRUARY 14, 2013

What George W. Bush Did Right

The 43rd president of the United States did a great thing for humankind -- but most Americans have no idea.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Free Trade or Penalty-Free Crime?

Free Trade Zones are meant to promote trade and improve economies. But they often end up being a cover for crime.

BY ROGER BATE | FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Georgia's Political Standoff Deepens

A letter from Tbilisi

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | FEBRUARY 11, 2013

The End of Ukraine's Balancing Act

Ukraine has long faced a choice: Should it cast its lot with Russia or the European Union? 2013 is shaping up to be the year Kyiv finally decides. The first in our series of Lab Reports.

BY ASKOLD KRUSHELNYCKY | FEBRUARY 7, 2013