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.
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
Matthew T. Page
Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Ashley Quarcoo
Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Mara Revkin
Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Oliver Stuenkel
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Milan Vaishnav
Director and Senior Fellow, South Asia Program
Jodi Vittori
Nonresident Scholar, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Richard Youngs
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
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.
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.
A one-stop source for following crucial trends in the most significant antigovernment protests worldwide since 2017.
A discussion on why political violence has been on the rise in recent years; which important resilience factors make America resistant to a civil war; and how individuals can contribute, as voters and in their communities, to lowering the probability of political violence
The political debate in Europe is increasingly focused on whether to engage or isolate radical-right parties. A European democracy pact could help the EU mitigate the growing risk to liberal pluralism.
A conversation on whether the assassination attempt on Donald Trump marks the beginning of a perilous period for political violence in America, or if the polarization and tension might recede amid the wave of shock.
America is experiencing the worst spate of domestic violence since the 1960s and 1970s. July 13’s assassination attempt against former President Trump could be a wakeup call.
In American history and abroad, political violence can be tamped down—but the public also has to want it.
Majorities of Americans across the political spectrum condemn political violence as unequivocally wrong, in every single case, against anyone. That voice needs to be heard loud and clear.
On the margins of the seventy-fifth NATO summit, please join the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the National Democratic Institute for an event marking the launch of Women Leading Effective and Accountable Democracy in the Digital Age (Women LEAD), a new initiative from the Biden-Harris administration focused on advancing women’s political participation globally and addressing barriers to women’s leadership, both online and offline.
Backsliding is less a result of democracies failing to deliver than of democracies failing to constrain the predatory political ambitions and methods of certain elected leaders. Policymakers and aid providers seeking to limit backsliding should tailor their diplomatic and aid interventions accordingly.
To protect their assets for the long term, some countries invest resources and wealth into sovereign wealth funds, which manage a diversified portfolio. But without adequate transparency requirements, these vehicles can be ripe for corruption and other governance risks.
In the next institutional term, EU leaders must rejuvenate and prioritize democracy support policies.