• Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Global logoCarnegie lettermark logo
DemocracyIran
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Richard Youngs"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Europe"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "democracy",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Europe",
  "programAffiliation": "DCG",
  "programs": [
    "Democracy, Conflict, and Governance"
  ],
  "projects": [
    "Civic Research Network"
  ],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Asia",
    "Europe"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy",
    "Democracy",
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other
Carnegie Europe

The Power of Protest

Protests like the ones in Hong Kong have proliferated around the world in recent years. But can they lead to lasting change?

Link Copied
By Richard Youngs
Published on Jun 18, 2019
Program mobile hero image

Program

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

Learn More
Civic Research Network

Project

Civic Research Network

Carnegie’s Civic Research Network is a global group of leading experts and activists dedicated to examining the changing patterns of civic activism around the world and analyzing the implications for future international civil society support.

Learn More

Source: WorldAffairs

Protesters have recently flood downtown Hong Kong, winning concessions and even adding to their demands. Experts say protests like these have proliferated around the world in recent years. But can they lead to lasting change? On this episode of WorldAffairs, Richard Youngs discusses his new book, Civic Activism Unleashed: New Hope or False Dawn for Democracy?, and what the explosion of global civic activism says about the state of citizen discontent.

This podcast was originally recorded by WorldAffairs.

About the Author

Richard Youngs

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Richard Youngs is a senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, based at Carnegie Europe. He works on EU foreign policy and on issues of international democracy.

    Recent Work

  • Report
    Europe from Scratch: Visions for a New European Order
      • Erik Jones
      • +9

      Richard Youngs, Erik Jones, Dan Baer, …

  • Paper
    Post-U.S. International Democracy Support: Aspiration in Search of Substance

      Richard Youngs, Thomas Carothers

Richard Youngs
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Richard Youngs
Foreign PolicyDemocracyPolitical ReformMiddle EastAsiaEurope

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Two women walking in front of thick black smoke
    Commentary
    In the War with Iran, Targeting Energy Infrastructure Has Outsized Impact on Civilians

    Acknowledging these harms strengthens the case for ethical limits on the weaponization of critical infrastructure.

      • Andrew Leber

      Alia Sajjadian, Andrew Leber

  • Photo of Donald Trump and Felix Tshisekedi shaking hands in front of a blue banner.
    Article
    Will the U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement Endanger U.S. Interests in the DRC?

    President Tshisekedi is implicating Washington in his pursuit of a third term. Staying silent may prove detrimental to the United States in the long run.

      Christian-Géraud Neema

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Taking the Pulse: Are the EU’s Watered-Down Russia Sanctions Better than None?

    The EU had to compromise to adopt a twenty-first sanctions package against Russia, exposing growing cracks in the union’s resolve. Is this latest, weaker round worth it to keep pressure on Moscow?

      • Rym Momtaz

      Rym Momtaz, ed.

  • This photo obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim shows an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boat allegedly taking part in an operation to seize ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, on April 21, 2026.
    Paper
    The Hormuz Conflict and the Limits of Renminbi Internationalization

    Potential Strait of Hormuz transit “fees” and Iran’s renminbi use are bringing attention to Beijing’s push to become a “financial power,” particularly in energy markets. Underdeveloped aspects of China’s financial system and its dollar dependencies still constrain the renminbi’s geoeconomic significance, but recent events may spur policy shifts aimed at changing these dynamics.

      Robert Greene

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Russia Is Approaching a Political Crossroads

    Two divergent trends—Putin’s hardline vision of how to prosecute the war in Ukraine, and a growing desire for change in Russia—could tear the regime apart. 

      Tatiana Stanovaya

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie global logo, stacked
1779 Massachusetts Avenue NWWashington, DC, 20036-2103Phone: 202 483 7600
  • Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
  • Donate
  • Programs
  • Events
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Contact
  • Annual Reports
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Government Resources
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.