Programs
Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
Programs
Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
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About the Program

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.

paper
European and U.S. Democracy Support: The Limits of Convergence

Projects

Program experts

Saskia Brechenmacher

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Thomas Carothers

Harvey V. Fineberg Chair for Democracy Studies; Director, Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program

Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar

President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Steven Feldstein

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Francis Fukuyama

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Erica Gaston

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Brittany Gleixner-Hayat

Visiting Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Rachel Kleinfeld

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Beatriz Magaloni

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Jennifer McCoy

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Mara Revkin

Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Oliver Stuenkel

Visiting Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Milan Vaishnav

Director and Senior Fellow, South Asia Program

Richard Youngs

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Latest work
In The Media
in the media
What does the research say about polarization?

A discussion on what the research says about the roots and repercussions of polarization in American politics.

You Might Be Right Podcast
In The Media
in the media
Rachel Kleinfeld: US Systems Amplify Polarization—But They Don’t Have To
The Context Podcast
In The Media
in the media
SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue
Marketplace
In The Media
in the media
The Year of Elections Has Been Good for Democracy
Foreign Affairs
collection
U.S. Democracy Under Pressure

In recent years, multiple international indices have downgraded U.S. democracy.  Polarization, accusations of voting irregularities, political violence, and other negative trends are having a corrosive influence on the state of U.S. democracy and leaders’ ability to govern, address domestic problems, and craft stable policies.  This project brings together the work of scholars across the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who analyze the problems afflicting U.S. democracy based on comparative perspectives and offer insights that can strengthen U.S. governing institutions and society.

  • +7
see the collection
article
Defending Civic Space in the United States: Lessons Learned Around the World

In a context of democratic erosion, U.S. civil society organizations face a widening array of legal, political, and security threats. They can learn from the experiences of civic activists in backsliding democracies around the world.

paper
Closing Civic Space in the United States: Connecting the Dots, Changing the Trajectory

Over the past two decades, dozens of governments have used regulations, laws, and vilifying narratives to restrict the ability of civil society organizations to act and speak. Now, a similar set of tactics is being rolled out in the United States. What should philanthropists and organizations expect, and what can be done?

paper
Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says

What can be done about polarization in the United States? Reviewing a decade of research reveals unexpected findings.

collection
U.S. Democracy Under Pressure

In recent years, multiple international indices have downgraded U.S. democracy.  Polarization, accusations of voting irregularities, political violence, and other negative trends are having a corrosive influence on the state of U.S. democracy and leaders’ ability to govern, address domestic problems, and craft stable policies.  This project brings together the work of scholars across the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who analyze the problems afflicting U.S. democracy based on comparative perspectives and offer insights that can strengthen U.S. governing institutions and society.

  • +7
see the collection
article
Defending Civic Space in the United States: Lessons Learned Around the World

In a context of democratic erosion, U.S. civil society organizations face a widening array of legal, political, and security threats. They can learn from the experiences of civic activists in backsliding democracies around the world.

paper
Closing Civic Space in the United States: Connecting the Dots, Changing the Trajectory

Over the past two decades, dozens of governments have used regulations, laws, and vilifying narratives to restrict the ability of civil society organizations to act and speak. Now, a similar set of tactics is being rolled out in the United States. What should philanthropists and organizations expect, and what can be done?

paper
Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says

What can be done about polarization in the United States? Reviewing a decade of research reveals unexpected findings.

Digital Feature

Explore the Global Protest Tracker

A one-stop source for following crucial trends in the most significant antigovernment protests worldwide since 2017.

Explore the tracker

All Work from Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

filters
1786 Results
in the media
What does the research say about polarization?

A discussion on what the research says about the roots and repercussions of polarization in American politics.

· September 12, 2024
You Might Be Right Podcast
in the media
Rachel Kleinfeld: US Systems Amplify Polarization—But They Don’t Have To

The Context is a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, about the history, trends, and ideas shaping democracy in the United States and around the world. 

· September 10, 2024
The Context Podcast
in the media
SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue

An explanation on why the space agency leaned on SpaceX to help bring them back home by next February.

· September 9, 2024
Marketplace
in the media
The Year of Elections Has Been Good for Democracy

But the Biggest Test Will Come in America

· September 5, 2024
Foreign Affairs
a woman putting a slip of paper into a ballot box
commentary
Emissary
How Global Democracy Is Faring in the Year of Elections

Some contests have been depressing spectacles of authoritarian control, while others offer a brighter snapshot.

· September 3, 2024
long-exposure night sky image of a white line of Starlink satellites
commentary
Emissary
Why Catching Up to Starlink Is a Priority for Beijing

Its ambitions shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the geopolitical implications are worrying.

· September 3, 2024
Democratic Crossroads cover
book
Democratic Crossroads: Transformations in Twenty First-Century Politics

After more than a decade of democratic regression, three major crises have acted to reshape global politics in recent years: climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic legacy, and geopolitical conflict.

· September 3, 2024
in the media
Telegram Founder to Face Court Over Platform’s Moderation Woes and Criminal Concerns

The arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov is controversial because it poses a threat to the free flow of information.

· August 25, 2024
Australian Broadcasting Company
in the media
Industrial Policy Needs an Immigration Policy

Why Bringing Jobs Back to the United States Requires Letting in More Foreign Workers

· August 22, 2024
Foreign Affairs
Maduro speaking at a mic and pointing upward
commentary
Emissary
Maduro’s Resilience Reflects the West’s Limited Influence in Venezuela

The president has dug in and is waiting for global attention to move elsewhere.

· August 20, 2024
In The Media
in the media
What does the research say about polarization?
· September 12, 2024
You Might Be Right Podcast
In The Media
in the media
Rachel Kleinfeld: US Systems Amplify Polarization—But They Don’t Have To
· September 10, 2024
The Context Podcast
In The Media
in the media
SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue
· September 9, 2024
Marketplace
In The Media
in the media
The Year of Elections Has Been Good for Democracy
· September 5, 2024
Foreign Affairs
a woman putting a slip of paper into a ballot box
commentary
Emissary
How Global Democracy Is Faring in the Year of Elections
· September 3, 2024
long-exposure night sky image of a white line of Starlink satellites
commentary