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

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
overhead shot of a table with ballots on them and people around the table sorting through them
commentary
Emissary
Three Conclusions From the Global Year of Elections

The disparate cases and hard questions of interpretation underline the need for nuance.

people holding up lights, protesting in front of a government building
commentary
Emissary
Election-Related Protests Surged in 2024
In The Media
in the media
The Chinese Competitors Aiming to Challenge Spacex’s Starlink Satellite System
CNBC
In The Media
in the media
Hold On, Elon and Vivek: Firing Federal Bureaucrats Isn’t the Solution
Wall Street Journal
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
1830 Results
overhead shot of a table with ballots on them and people around the table sorting through them
commentary
Emissary
Three Conclusions From the Global Year of Elections

The disparate cases and hard questions of interpretation underline the need for nuance.

· December 18, 2024
people holding up lights, protesting in front of a government building
commentary
Emissary
Election-Related Protests Surged in 2024

More than 160 significant anti-government protests erupted around the world this year, according to Carnegie’s Global Protest Tracker, with many driven by voting-related grievances.

· December 16, 2024
in the media
The Chinese Competitors Aiming to Challenge Spacex’s Starlink Satellite System

China has plans to compete with Starlink with its Qianfan project.

· December 15, 2024
CNBC
in the media
Hold On, Elon and Vivek: Firing Federal Bureaucrats Isn’t the Solution

Bureaucratic reform is important, but DOGE's agenda is the wrong answer.

· December 13, 2024
Wall Street Journal
in the media
How to Tackle Political Violence

In the United States, France, and Germany, political violence has been rising. The problem is not just emotive political polarization. Extreme political parties, irresponsible leaders and democratic disillusionment also play key roles, and are eating away at the heart of our political systems.

· December 13, 2024
New Books Network
Civic Activism in an Intensifying Climate Crisis
research
Civic Activism in an Intensifying Climate Crisis

To address the deepening climate crisis, climate activism is employing a wider variety of tactics and aiming at a broader set of goals. In response, the movement faces stronger repression and civic backlash against climate action.

· December 10, 2024
in the media
Playing Defence: Europe and Democracy

The tussle between democracy and authoritarianism has drastically altered Europe’s geopolitical landscape

· December 2, 2024
Survival
Triple Nexus climate conflict
paper
The EU’s Triple-Nexus Challenge: Climate, Conflict, Democracy

The EU’s fragmented approaches to the crises of climate change, conflict, and democracy fall short by not addressing the mutually reinforcing links between them. Brussels needs an integrated strategy to tackle the emerging three-way nexus and mitigate the vulnerabilities it creates.

  • +1
· November 27, 2024
Photograph of a pro-choice protester holding a sign reading "keep abortion legal" as anti-abortion campaigners in the background participate in the "March for Life" outside the U.S. Supreme Court.
article
Why Gender Is Central to the Antidemocratic Playbook: Unpacking the Linkages in the United States and Beyond

Restrictive gender norms and authoritarianism often strengthen one another.

· November 25, 2024
meeting room with a huge circular table and lots of people around it
commentary
Emissary
Why Is Saudi Arabia Hedging Its BRICS Invite?

Riyadh’s fence-sitting strategy reflects its desire to keep all doors open. Others may follow its lead.

· November 21, 2024
overhead shot of a table with ballots on them and people around the table sorting through them
commentary
Emissary
Three Conclusions From the Global Year of Elections
· December 18, 2024
people holding up lights, protesting in front of a government building
commentary
Emissary
Election-Related Protests Surged in 2024
· December 16, 2024
In The Media
in the media
The Chinese Competitors Aiming to Challenge Spacex’s Starlink Satellite System
· December 15, 2024
CNBC
In The Media
in the media
Hold On, Elon and Vivek: Firing Federal Bureaucrats Isn’t the Solution
· December 13, 2024
Wall Street Journal
In The Media
in the media
How to Tackle Political Violence
· December 13, 2024
New Books Network
Civic Activism in an Intensifying Climate Crisis
research
Civic Activism in an Intensifying Climate Crisis
· December 10, 2024
In The Media
in the media
Playing Defence: Europe and Democracy
· December 2, 2024
Survival
Triple Nexus climate conflict
paper
The EU’s Triple-Nexus Challenge: Climate, Conflict, Democracy
  • +1
· November 27, 2024
Photograph of a pro-choice protester holding a sign reading "keep abortion legal" as anti-abortion campaigners in the background participate in the "March for Life" outside the U.S. Supreme Court.
article
Why Gender Is Central to the Antidemocratic Playbook: Unpacking the Linkages in the United States and Beyond
· November 25, 2024
meeting room with a huge circular table and lots of people around it
commentary
Emissary
Why Is Saudi Arabia Hedging Its BRICS Invite?
· November 21, 2024