Human Rights

The Year in Unfreedom

An encouraging number of the world's people voted in 2012. But voting does not a democracy make.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | JANUARY 4, 2013

A New Law of Petropolitics

Sorry, Tom Friedman, higher oil prices don't always mean lower levels of democracy.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | JANUARY 2, 2013

The Law Still Stands

Why I stand by my arguments about oil and dictatorship.

BY THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN | JANUARY 2, 2013

India Has a Woman Problem

And there's no denying it anymore.

BY RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL | DECEMBER 28, 2012

The Midlife Crisis of Bangladesh

Bangladeshis want a reckoning with their bloody past. But they can do it without partisanship?

BY JOSEPH ALLCHIN | DECEMBER 21, 2012

Moving On Up

Turkey is now a solidly middle-income state. But there are still plenty of roadblocks on the path ahead.

BY HILTON L. ROOT | DECEMBER 21, 2012

In Defense of Civil Society

Civil society does exist in authoritarian countries.

BY KERRY COSBY | DECEMBER 20, 2012

What Africa Did Right in 2012

Africans are getting better at finding their own solutions to African problems.

BY JON TEMIN | DECEMBER 20, 2012

Nothing Is Written

The triumph of democracy isn't inevitable. It has to be fought for.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | DECEMBER 19, 2012

Europe's Pet Dictator

Parts of the old Soviet bloc have moved on. So why is Belarus still mired in despotism?

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | DECEMBER 13, 2012

Born Free, But Not Indifferent

Yes the government should protect free speech. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t speak out.

BY COREY BRETTSCHNEIDER | DECEMBER 12, 2012

The 7 Deadly Sins of Congo's Peace Process

Congo is an object lesson in how not to resolve conflicts. It's time we changed that.

BY JOHN PRENDERGAST | DECEMBER 7, 2012

Back to the (Soviet) Future

Dear Vladimir Putin, I'm a human rights activist, not a spy.

BY TANYA LOKSHINA | DECEMBER 5, 2012

Waiting for the Rain

In the impenetrable Dogon highlands of Mali, the storm of war is coming.

BY PETER CHILSON | DECEMBER 4, 2012

Stop Talking About Civil Society

Using terms like "civil society" is a distraction from the real problems in authoritarian countries. 

BY SARAH KENDZIOR | DECEMBER 3, 2012

Heroes of Retreat, Revisited

We love to celebrate heroic crusaders for human rights. But what about the dictator who decides to surrender his powers?

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | NOVEMBER 30, 2012

The Dicey Democrat

How a pillar of the old regime in Burma is working to prove his democratic credentials.

BY WILLIAM LLOYD-GEORGE | NOVEMBER 28, 2012

In Rebel Country

How did 1,000 skinny militiamen in rubber boots conquer a city of 1 million people in a matter of hours?

BY JAMES VERINI | NOVEMBER 27, 2012

The Battle for Goma

Once again, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has descended into chaos.

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Beware of Mirages

The Obama Administration is pursuing closer ties with the military in Burma -- a policy that could undermine efforts to build democracy.

BY ELLEN BORK | NOVEMBER 26, 2012

The Lady and the General

Meet the political odd couple driving democratic reform in Burma.

BY KURT M. CAMPBELL | DECEMBER 2012

A Change Is Gonna Come

Chen Guangcheng on freedom, violence, and the possibility of a revolution in China.

INTERVIEW BY ISAAC STONE FISH | DECEMBER 2012

Defending Free Speech in the Digital Age

Across the world, the battle for free speech is pitting governments and corporations against activists and average citizens.

BY LEE C. BOLLINGER | DECEMBER 2012

Turkey's Weakest Export

Turkey says it wants to be a model for democracy in the Middle East. But so far its actions lag behind its achievements.

BY GAMZE COŞKUN | NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Africa's Forever War

Haunting scenes from Congo's ongoing conflict.

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Five Myths about the Chinese Internet

The Great Firewall is neither great, nor a firewall. Discuss.

BY EVELINE CHAO | NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Everything You Need to Know About Susan Rice

The lowdown on America's maybe-next secretary of state.

BY COLUM LYNCH | NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Dreams of Their Fathers

Cambodia's people want freedom. Can Obama deliver?

BY KAREN J. COATES | NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The Key to Bringing Democracy to China

It's naked self-interest, stupid.

BY YASHENG HUANG | NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Words Are Weapons of Mass Destruction

Why Hamas should watch its language.

BY DAVID KEYES | NOVEMBER 19, 2012