Democracy Lab

The Ground Truth from Benghazi

The politicians in Washington are beating each other up over the Benghazi consulate attack. But they don't seem to be paying much attention to the evidence from the scene of the crime.

BY CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN | OCTOBER 16, 2012

The Kingdom of Silence and Humiliation

Looking back on life under the Assad dynasty.

BY AHED AL HENDI | OCTOBER 16, 2012

To Leave or Not to Leave

President Hugo Chávez’s victory in the presidential election has some Venezuelans wondering whether it's time to leave.

BY DANIEL LANSBERG-RODRIGUEZ | OCTOBER 16, 2012

Amputation is No Cure for Cancer

South Sudan is gone. But the government in Khartoum still can't escape what ails Sudan.

BY JON TEMIN | OCTOBER 15, 2012

Why a Constitution Is a Bad Place for a Blasphemy Law

A constitutional ban on blasphemy might sound like a good idea to some. But it can mean less freedom for everyone.

BY KATRINA LANTOS SWETT, ROBERT P. GEORGE | OCTOBER 15, 2012

Remembering the White Terror

25 years after the end of authoritarianism, Taiwan is still struggling to come to terms with its past.

BY AMBER PARCHER | OCTOBER 12, 2012

Blindsided

The results of Georgia’s parliamentary election caught American pollsters completely off guard. They should have tried asking the right questions.

BY JAMES KIRCHICK | OCTOBER 12, 2012

The Big Bang Theory of Education

Authoritarian countries don't seem to be doing well at the knowledge business. That's probably no accident.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | OCTOBER 11, 2012

In Post-Revolution Egypt, Talk Shows Redefine the Political Landscape

In Egypt, the hosts of political talk shows have become the arbiters of public discussion and debate. But do they know how to wield their newfound power?

BY FATIMA EL-ISSAWI | OCTOBER 10, 2012

Chavez Rides Again

Make no mistake: Hugo Chávez's victory in Sunday's election marks another step in the erosion of Venezuela's democratic institutions.

BY MICHAEL ALBERTUS | OCTOBER 9, 2012

The Sanctions Conundrum

Some say the sanctions against Tehran are working. But wasn't the Iranian economy already a basket case?

BY PETER PASSELL | OCTOBER 9, 2012

No Exit

For the first time in many years, Venezuela’s presidential election is raising the possibility of an electoral defeat for Hugo Chávez. But if he loses, does that mean he’ll go?

BY DANIEL LANSBERG-RODRIGUEZ | OCTOBER 4, 2012

An Idealist on Death Row

Why the desperate fate of a little-known Sudanese human rights activists poses some fundamental questions about what it means to be human.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | OCTOBER 3, 2012

Unsung Heroes

Some of the world's bravest dissidents are pursuing their fight against injustice with little attention from the outside world. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth knowing about. Here's a list of remarkable people who rarely make it into the headlines.

BY TOM MALINOWSKI | OCTOBER 3, 2012

In Defeat, Georgia's President Confounds his Critics

Mikheil Saakashvili's conciliatory reaction to his party's loss in the election seems to prove his critics wrong. Now let's see if the winner can do as well.

BY JAMES KIRCHICK | OCTOBER 2, 2012

Georgia's Electoral Showdown

Emotions are running high as Georgians vote in a watershed parliamentary election.

BY JAMES KIRCHICK | OCTOBER 1, 2012

Save Benghazi

How the citizens of Benghazi are pushing back against the killers of a U.S. diplomat many considered their friend.

BY CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN | SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

Rebooting the Bureaucracy in Georgia

As Georgian voters prepare to vote in a crucial parliamentary election, a look back at one of the signature programs of President Mikheil Saakashvili. 

BY RICHARD BENNET | SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

The Gangnam Phenom

A South Korean video is making waves on the Web. But the West is actually late to the party.

BY MARK JAMES RUSSELL | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

In Georgia, Two Machines Are Better Than One

The run-up to Georgia's October 1 election has been dirty, demeaning, and rife with abuses of power and allegations of corruption. It’s also the best thing to happen to Georgia in a long time.

BY SCOTT RADNITZ | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Why We Give the Lady a Hard Time

An open letter to the critics of our criticism.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Venezuela's Magical Realist Voters

The key to next month's presidential election may well lie in the hands of a mysterious and nebulous bloc of swing voters.

BY DANIEL LANSBERG-RODRÍGUEZ | SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

How to Save the Regime in Tehran

Shirin Ebadi, Iran's leading human rights activist, explains why on attack on the country's nuclear program is just what the mullahs have been yearning for.

BY NAZILA FATHI | SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

The Great Pharmaceuticals Scam

India has a problem with substandard drugs -- and American regulators are allowing them to be imported into the United States.

BY ROGER BATE | SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Finding the Right Take-Off Speed

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to transition economies. But slow and steady often wins the race.

BY JUSTIN YIFU LIN | SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Turkey's Fragile Success

Turkey has undeniable economic potential, but there is still a lot of work to do.

BY CENK SIDAR | SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

The Revolution in Tunisia Stalls

Even before last week's riots at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, the progress of Tunisia's revolution was beginning to look rocky. Here's why.

BY FADIL ALIRIZA | SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

The Problem with Patriotism

The dispute over islands in the East China Sea is stirring up nationalist passions in the region. That doesn't bode well for the future of democracy.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Think Again: Burma’s Economy

Burma is open for business, and foreign investors are champing at the bit. Time for a reality check.

BY JARED BISSINGER | SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

Taking on the Gangs in Cape Town

How local officials in a township in post-apartheid South Africa confronted the challenge of gang violence.

BY RICHARD BENNET | SEPTEMBER 17, 2012