Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
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.
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
Sarah Yerkes
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Richard Youngs
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Latest work
Why Sheinbaum May Take a Different Path on Mexico’s Security
Americas Quarterly
Navigating Setbacks: Women’s Political Representation in the 2024 Super Election Year
Colmena Fund for Women’s Political Power
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.
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.
Digital Feature
Explore the Global Protest Tracker
A one-stop source for following crucial trends in the most significant antigovernment protests worldwide since 2017.
All Work from Democracy, Conflict, and Governance
filters
1798 Results
When Populists Rise, Economies Usually Fall
Populists undermine the operating environment capitalism depends on—most notably, free competition and a predictable rule of law.
U.S. Support for Democratic Openings in Conflict-Affected Countries: Lessons From Ethiopia and Sudan
When conflict-affected countries have a democratic opening, U.S. policymakers need to better understand and incorporate the many factors at play—local actors and power structures, emerging powers and their interests, and competing U.S. interests, among others.
· October 2, 2024
Navigating Setbacks: Women’s Political Representation in the 2024 Super Election Year
So far, elections in 2024 have brought more setbacks than gains for women’s political representation.
Why Sheinbaum May Take a Different Path on Mexico’s Security
No other issue is more pressing for Mexicans than public security. The start of a new presidential term offers President Claudia Sheinbaum an opportunity to consider and test a different approach than her predecessors.
How To Fix DEI
Recent assaults on DEI from the right have caused people who care about a diverse, inclusive America to circle the wagons. But proponents of diversity do need to alter these programs—not to please those who want to go backward, but to help America become the inclusive nation it needs to be moving forward.
The European Union Is Becoming Too Obsessed with Defence
If, for many years, the EU dangerously neglected the need for hard, defensive power it now risks moving to other extreme – giving hard power such pride of place that it detracts from the more consequential trends that will redefine the world order.
The Battle for the BRICS
Rather than bemoaning the emergence of the BRICS, the West should court those member states that have a stake in making sure that the grouping does not become an overtly anti-Western outfit intent on undermining the global order.
How to Prevent Political Violence
Political leaders, more than anyone, have the power to stoke or stamp out this dangerous cycle of violence.
The Parties Reimagined
A realignment is already underway. So long as the country remains stuck in a messy stalemate, America will face greater political violence.
The EU Pushes Back a New Democracy Plan: A Mistake?
The 2020-2024 Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy has been instrumental in advancing EU democracy support through a broad range of commitments. Yet, the rapid evolution of challenges to democracy has outpaced the Action Plan’s capacity to adapt.
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