Democracy Lab

Where Democracy Is America’s Second Choice

For Washington, democracy promotion in Yemen continues to take a back seat to the fight against Al-Qaeda.

BY FRANCISCO MARTIN-RAYO | MAY 2, 2012

Lying to Tell the Truth

Saving the world is no excuse for fudging the facts.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MAY 1, 2012

Tobacco's War on Women

The global tobacco industry is targeting women in emerging markets. Can public policy rise to the challenge?

BY BRAD EDMONDSON | MAY 1, 2012

Congratulations and Condolences

The conviction of Charles Taylor is welcome news. But don’t be fooled: The international criminal justice system is in deep trouble.

BY CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN | APRIL 30, 2012

Predators for Peace

Drones have revolutionized war. Why not let them deliver aid?

BY JACK C. CHOW | APRIL 27, 2012

Away From the Handouts

The argument for a new approach to development aid.

BY PETER PASSELL | APRIL 26, 2012

Obama's Committee of Salvation

Preventing genocide sounds like a worthy cause. But setting up a new White House committee isn't the way to do it.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | APRIL 25, 2012

The Stubborn Past

Thirty-five years after the "Dirty War," a trial in Argentina is still struggling to shed light on a bloody legacy.

BY ALEX GIBSON | APRIL 20, 2012

Dirty Laundry

If the West really wants to prevent developing countries from laundering money, it can start by cleaning up its own act.

BY PETER REUTER | APRIL 19, 2012

It's Not Just You, America

Economic inequality is today’s hot-button issue -- whether you live in a wealthy country or a poor one.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | APRIL 18, 2012

Trustbusters

Why the Obama Administration is targeting Malaysia and Vietnam in the trans-Pacific trade talks.

BY GREG RUSHFORD | APRIL 13, 2012

Needles Into Ploughshares

Want to fight Latin America's drug problem? Try land reform.

BY OLIVER KAPLAN, MICHAEL ALBERTUS | APRIL 12, 2012

The Lesson from Mali: Do No Harm

An African success story is in trouble. Is the West's intervention in Libya to blame?

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | APRIL 11, 2012

Pictures at a Revolution

Data visualization can offer some unique insights into social upheaval. But the data artists are just getting started.

BY LUKE ALLNUTT | APRIL 11, 2012

Finish What You Start

Getting rid of a dictator is a great achievement. But it's only the beginning of a successful transition to democracy.

BY SRDJA POPOVIC, ROBERT HELVEY | APRIL 6, 2012

Decoupling: Ties That No Longer Bind

Emerging market economies have protected themselves from global economic downturns.

BY PETER PASSELL | APRIL 4, 2012

16 Ways to Fix Burma

On the eve of the country's historic elections, 16 experts give us their prescriptions for the future.

MARCH 30, 2012

The Lady's Leap of Faith

Why Aung San Suu Kyi's decision to participate in a flawed election could be the biggest gamble of her career.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 30, 2012

Letting Burma Back In

Experts debate whether the role of sanctions was successful in opening up Burma. But with the up-coming by-elections and the release of political prisoners, the greater challenge may be how to lift them.

BY TOM MALINOWSKI | MARCH 30, 2012

The Thieves of Burma

Hello from the third-most corrupt place on Earth.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 27, 2012

Why Burma Shouldn't Listen to the IMF

If Burma's leaders really want to revive their economy, they can start by giving a cold shoulder to the Washington Consensus.

BY RICK ROWDEN | MARCH 27, 2012

The Lady and the Peacock

An exclusive excerpt from the new biography on Burma's democratic opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

BY PETER POPHAM | MARCH 26, 2012

Biden to Latin America: Drop Dead

The laws of economics show why the United States has little chance of victory in the war on drugs.

BY PETER PASSELL | MARCH 22, 2012

Filling Saleh's Shoes

Yemen's new president has his work cut out for him. Is he up to the task?

BY TOM FINN | MARCH 21, 2012

Lessons for America from the Global War on Sleaze

When it comes to fighting corruption, it turns out there’s a lot that the U.S. can learn from developing countries.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 20, 2012

Hungary's Pit Bull Prime Minister

How one of Europe’s most celebrated anti-communists become the bad boy of the continent.

BY JAMES KIRCHICK | MARCH 16, 2012

The Temperature's Dropping for Russia's Opposition

Vladimir Putin is back in the saddle, and the weather is getting chilly again for Russia's protest movement.

BY ANNA NEMTSOVA | MARCH 15, 2012

Argentina's Dubious Boom

Argentina's economy has been coasting on its past successes. Don't be fooled.

BY ROBERT LOONEY | MARCH 14, 2012

Let's Stop Miscasting Africans

Africans are way past the victim thing -- but Westerners don't seem to be there yet. A tale of two films.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 13, 2012

A Recipe for Freedom

Five lessons from South Africa's transition to democracy. Excerpts from a recent speech by the country's ex-president.

BY F.W. DE KLERK | MARCH 12, 2012