Democracy & Rule of Law
Democratic Backsliding & Solutions
127 Articles

Militarized Counterterrorism in Africa: Moving Beyond a Failed Approach
Leading with a heavy military response, particularly when government partners are repressive, ultimately makes things worse. The need for a new approach is clear. It should focus…

Does Mali’s Coup Advance Democracy?
What are the implications of accepting or inviting military intervention in domestic politics in Mali and beyond?

Make Democracy and Governance a Keystone of the US Global Fragility Strategy
The US too often views its work on fragile or failed states as "fixing" various sectors, without enough focus on the political dynamics underneath.

The EU Should Quarantine its Autocrats
The Hungarian and Polish governments’ exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic for their own ends poses a significant challenge for the EU with consequences that will be present…

Threats to Democracy Spread with the Virus, We Must Keep Both in Check
In Hungary, the parliament has lost the ability to check the power of Viktor Orbán and his executive branch.

In Legislation to Reduce Global Violence, Can U.S. Move Beyond a Focus on “Extremism”?
The real priority for the United States is to address not just ‘extremism’ but violent conflict overall by being clear-eyed about the complex factors driving it and what contributes…

EU Parliamentary Elections: A Tipping Point for Modern Europe?
Protests last weekend in Vienna and Milan reflect the unusually sharp choice of EU voters between far-right and pro-EU parties in elections May 23-26. Usually an obscure event…