Egypt’s Dismal Opposition: A Second Look

It is time for U.S. and other Western observers to put aside comparisons based on imagined ideals of opposition quality and behavior and more realistically and thoughtfully attempt to understand Egypt’s new political life and possible political futures.

Development Aid Confronts Politics

Developmental change is an inherently political process and development aid must necessarily be politically informed and politically engaged to be successful.

Recalibrating U.S. Policy in Egypt

Showing that Washington is serious about democratic standards with new Islamist actors in power is ultimately a greater sign of respect for them than excusing their shortcomings and lowering U.S. expectations.

The Case for Arming Syrian Rebels

The United States should arm carefully chosen Syrian rebel groups to expedite the fall of Syrian regime and prevent Iran from using the region as its main conduit for shipping weapons to terrorist groups that attack Israel and other U.S. allies.

The Real Danger for Egyptian Democracy

Dominant party overreach following the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise is a greater threat to Egypt’s democracy than Islamist illiberalism.

Is Burma Democratizing?

The victory of Aung San Suu Kyi and several dozen of her National League for Democracy colleagues in Burma’s April 1 legislative by-elections is a major event for the country.

Washington’s Bow to Mideast Monarchs

A stark division underlies U.S. policy in the Middle East, where serious efforts to bolster democratic transitions in parts of the region are carried out alongside firm support for most of the remaining non-democratic governments.

Approach Analogies with Caution

Analysts of the Arab Spring should be cautious when invoking historical analogies to explain recent events in the Middle East and North Africa.

Building a New Libya

As Libya's new leaders look to consolidate control, domestic and international attention is turning to the process of building a government that is more democratic, representative, and stable.

Democracy Promotion in the Age of Rising Powers

A more multipolar world could benefit democracy, but rising democracies are hesitant to engage in international democracy support. Encouraging these countries to do more to support democracy abroad should be a priority, but it will not be easy.

Development Aid Confronts Politics: The Almost Revolution

The overdue recognition that development in all sectors is an inherently political process is driving international aid providers to try to learn how to think and act politically.

Understanding Japanese Democracy Assistance

Japan’s low profile in the field of international democracy assistance stems from its preference for funding state institutions over civil society.

Reenergizing Democracy Promotion

Democracy promotion is central to U.S. foreign policy, but the loss of global democratic momentum, problems of Western political credibility, and the rise of alternative political models are making it a more challenging task than ever.

Advancing the Rule of Law Abroad: Next Generation Reform

A growing movement of second-generation reformers view the rule of law not as a collection of institutions and laws that can be built by outsiders, but as a relationship between the state and society that must be shaped by those inside the country.

Democracy Policy Under Obama: Revitalization or Retreat?

The overall record of Obama's democracy policy is mixed, combining valuable revitalization with continued troubling shortcomings.

Aiding Governance in Developing Countries: Progress Amid Uncertainties

International aid donors have learned important lessons about how to provide effective governance assistance to developing countries, but turning these insights into practice remains a major challenge.

Who Benefits from U.S. Aid to Pakistan?

A longer-term U.S. engagement and commitment to civilian and development aid in Pakistan might result in strengthening democracy in the country instead of reinforcing the military dominance that thwarts U.S. counterterrorism goals.

Looking for Help: Will Rising Democracies Become International Democracy Supporters?

Rising democracies from the developing world have the potential to assist and revitalize international democracy support. Encouraging these countries to do more to support democracy abroad should be a priority, but it will not be easy.

The New Role of Central and Eastern Europe in International Democracy Support

Democratic actors in Central and Eastern Europe bring unique experiences and legitimacy to international democracy support and their democracy promotion efforts have the potential to make a significant contribution.

Challenges to Democracy Promotion: The Case of Bolivia

Bolivia has embarked on a democratic experiment which differs in significant ways from Western liberal models. While this poses a challenge to traditional democracy promotion efforts, external actors still have the potential to play a constructive role in the country.

Lawmakers Promise Tough Questions for Defense, CIA Nominees

The personal gravitas and experience of both Chuck Hagel and John Brennan make them qualified additions to President Obama’s second-term cabinet.

On The Line: Oil and Gas Bonanza

Oil and gas supplies are booming in the U.S. and around the world as new technologies make it possible to recover untapped resources, changing U.S. energy policy and geo-politics.

Exporting Freedom?

The United States must balance its goal of democracy promotion with its economic, political, and security interests.

U.S. Response to the Arab Spring

U.S. ambivalence toward the popular democratic outbursts of the Arab Spring stems from Washington’s economic and security concerns in the region.

Chavez's Health Fuels Political Power Struggle in Venezuela

Although President Hugo Chavez has returned from his stay in Cuba, Venezuelans are beginning to consider what the country might look like without having Chavez at the center of the national life.

What Does the Arab Spring Mean for Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus?

The Arab Spring has more in common with events in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s than Central and Eastern Europe in 1989. The impact of events in the Middle East for states outside the region will depend on the legitimacy and adaptability of their regimes.

A League of Democracies

Carnegie's Thomas Carothers gives an in-depth interview on the proposed "League of Democracies" with Dallas’ NPR-affiliate, KERA. Carothers discusses the problems a league or concert of democracies would face in defining and selecting democratic member states—further undermining the credibility of U.S. democracy promotion efforts around the world.

Improving U.S. Democracy Promotion Policy

In his second inaugural, Bush put democracy promotion at the top of his foreign policy agenda and argued that the events of his first term proved that our freedom is inextricably linked to the freedom abroad. Thomas Carothers discusses the reputation of U.S. democracy promotion in the world and what a post-Bush administration can do to reclaim democracy promotion credibility in the world.

Ethnic Separatist Groups in Iran

Experts Discuss Global Democracy

Book Launch—Development Aid Confronts Politics: The Almost Revolution

A new lens on development is changing the world of international aid.

Departing Reflections on Supporting Democracy and Human Rights Abroad

After nearly four years of active work seeking to advance U.S. government support for democracy and human rights abroad, Assistant Secretary Michael H. Posner is leaving the Obama administration.

A Roundtable on Reforming Rule of Law Assistance in Asia

International efforts to promote the role of law in developing countries have reached a difficult stage. Despite decades of concerted efforts on the issue of legal empowerment and judicial reform, evidence of success remains sparse.

Roundtable on Advancing the Rule of Law Abroad: Next Generation Reform

Few issues elicit the same global consensus as the importance of the rule of law, yet rule of law programming remains one of the most difficult and frustrating areas of international development work, with few best practices established.

Democracy Promotion Under Obama: Revitalization or Retreat?

Despite their initial inclination to lower the profile of U.S. democracy promotion, President Obama has had to confront a series of urgent, visible democracy issues, from political upheaval in multiple Arab countries and unexpected events in Russia to thwarted elections in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

Can the Turkish Model Gain Traction in the New Middle East?

Turkey has a potentially valuable role to play in supporting democracy and state-building in the Arab world, but questions about that role abound.

Taking Forward the Integration of Governance into Development Aid

Major development agencies are increasingly attempting to integrate governance perspectives throughout their programs, but they face major unresolved questions in moving this effort forward.

Is the Community of Democracies Coming of Age?

Since its establishment just over ten years ago, the Community of Democracies has received mixed reviews. This symposium will assess the successes and failure of the Community and highlight current developments in the Community's work.

Change or Decay

Relations between the West and Russia are still shifting as the West has yet to adjust to the post-Soviet reality and Russia has not settled on its relationship with the rest of the world.

Assessing Morocco’s Political Reforms

Morocco has so far weathered the storm of popular unrest and regime change in the Middle East and North Africa. Questions remain, however, about whether the reforms King Mohammed VI is undertaking have the potential to alter the political landscape in Morocco.

Egypt’s Dismal Opposition: A Second Look

It is time for U.S. and other Western observers to put aside comparisons based on imagined ideals of opposition quality and behavior and more realistically and thoughtfully attempt to understand Egypt’s new political life and possible political futures.

Development Aid Confronts Politics

Developmental change is an inherently political process and development aid must necessarily be politically informed and politically engaged to be successful.

Book Launch—Development Aid Confronts Politics: The Almost Revolution

A new lens on development is changing the world of international aid.

Recalibrating U.S. Policy in Egypt

Showing that Washington is serious about democratic standards with new Islamist actors in power is ultimately a greater sign of respect for them than excusing their shortcomings and lowering U.S. expectations.

Development Aid Confronts Politics: The Almost Revolution

The overdue recognition that development in all sectors is an inherently political process is driving international aid providers to try to learn how to think and act politically.

Understanding Japanese Democracy Assistance

Japan’s low profile in the field of international democracy assistance stems from its preference for funding state institutions over civil society.

Departing Reflections on Supporting Democracy and Human Rights Abroad

After nearly four years of active work seeking to advance U.S. government support for democracy and human rights abroad, Assistant Secretary Michael H. Posner is leaving the Obama administration.

The Case for Arming Syrian Rebels

The United States should arm carefully chosen Syrian rebel groups to expedite the fall of Syrian regime and prevent Iran from using the region as its main conduit for shipping weapons to terrorist groups that attack Israel and other U.S. allies.

Lawmakers Promise Tough Questions for Defense, CIA Nominees

The personal gravitas and experience of both Chuck Hagel and John Brennan make them qualified additions to President Obama’s second-term cabinet.

On The Line: Oil and Gas Bonanza

Oil and gas supplies are booming in the U.S. and around the world as new technologies make it possible to recover untapped resources, changing U.S. energy policy and geo-politics.