Posts About Democracy
It's Cyclical, France Will Be Back
France's society and demographic fabric have been changing. This year's elections already show increased voter turnout from first-time voters -- minority and immigrant communities. France may be at the end of a cyclical decline, ready to move into a new era.
Musharraf Must Move Out Gradually
The key is a timetable for returning to civilian rule.
But How Could They Reelect Bush?
For a long time, most people around the world had two contradictory views about the U.S.: they liked America's people and values, but had serious problems with U.S. foreign policy. Then came 9/11 and the Iraq war, tensions grew, but people could still differentiate public from policy. Until the American people reelected Bush.
Kingdoms More Stable Than Republics
With the way the Arab world has gone, a stable, serious and relatively open monarchy is more favorable than a supposed republic. Powerful positions are granted to leaders' sons in Syria, Egypt and Libya while the Kingdoms of Jordan, Bahrain and Morocco enjoy the most serious democratization in the region.
Military Dictators Don't Want Democracy
A strong military like Pakistan's can bring stability, but at too high a price for any nation to pay.
No Easy Way Out for Military Dictators
Only a strong state can build a strong military, and not the other way around.
Fed Up With Mugabe
Give Mugabe a dose of his own medicine in Zimbabwe: use force. We’ve waited long enough.
Malaysia’s New Momentum
A stunning upset in Malaysia’s recent election means a new political future for the world’s most economically advanced Muslim country, and another chapter in Muslim democracy.
Musharraf's Two-Faced Rule
Musharraf’s blind desire to remain in power aids the same Taliban extremists he claims to be fighting.
Iran: Civil Society Held at Gunpoint
By Nasrin Alavi Here we go again. As Iran becomes increasingly isolated and under pressure from both Western powers and its Arab neighbours in the region, the battle lines are drawn. For many Iranians the signs are both ominous and all too familiar. On 22 September 1980, Iraq attacked western Iran, launching what would become the longest conventional war of the twentieth century....
Nigeria’s Inferno of Post-Colonial Democracy
Once again Nigeria picks up the bloody pieces from its latest democratic fiasco. In the next few days, the judiciary is likely to be overwhelmed by challenges to the latest presidential election. However, on a continent still coming to terms with post-colonial nationhood, should we expect the situation to be otherwise?
Memories of the Man on the Tank
With Boris Yeltsin’s passing, his famous photographs light up the front pages one more time – and the memories flood back. There is his picture as opposition leader standing atop a tank to oppose a coup, and of him dancing for his precarious reelection years later.
Regaining Ukrainian & Georgian Trust
Russia is behaving today as you would expect from a very ”normal” country, playing those cards she has and protecting her national interests as she sees them. The real issue is whether she will respect the democratic will of her historic satellite neighbors to move toward the West, or whether she can regain their trust.
Military Power Doesn't Equal Leadership
The right of kind of leader can help unleash a nation’s productive energies. A bad one can be terribly destructive.
