More: Democracy
Who Speaks in the Kurultai? The Logic of Power Behind Consultation
In August 2026, Kazakhstan will hold an unusual election. The newly established unicameral parliament—the “Kurultai”—will, for the first time, be formed entirely through party...
ASEAN pushes Myanmar on political prisoners as Suu Kyi welfare draws renewed concern
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, led this year by the Philippines, has renewed calls for Myanmar’s military authorities to release more political prisoners,...
Golden Handcuffs: The Political Economy of Pliable Democracy in Africa
Authors: Lyna Saadi and Dr. Julian Spencer-Churchill
Western democracy-promotion programs in Africa are failing, but not for the reasons most analysts claim. The problem is...
China’s People-Centered vs. Election-Focused: A Tale of Two Systems
In my observation of China’s development process, there’s the most impressive aspect of its truth-seeking and down-to-earth manner, which is embedded into the daily...
Misguided Democratization Efforts in Post-War Iraq and Beyond
After the Second World War, the rush to promote democratization across the Third World began in full swing; however, the lasting legacies of these...
China’s Cognitive Operations Against Taiwan and the Future of Democratic Resilience
There is a form of warfare that leaves no craters, deploys no soldiers, and issues no formal declaration, and yet it may prove more...
Public Logic Matters: Why Dissent Keeps States Healthy
In several corners of the world lately, the health of democracy within nations is being severely eroded, and the oxygen of civil liberty is...
Give Iraq’s Constitution a Chance
Iraq is once again at a crossroads. Elections were held late last year, and the ballots have been counted. Yet Iraq remains without a...
When Democracies Fracture: How Domestic Chaos is Reshaping Global Security
Across the globe, democracy is in decline. Key democratic characteristics (citizen participation, representative accountability and informational transparency) are in deepening crisis. These cleavages, from...
Syrian Refugee Return: A Defining Moment
Freedom’s arrival in Syria remains deeply fragile. Even as the country’s new rulers gain diplomatic recognition, goodwill, and early relief from Western sanctions, Syria...