Author Archives: DemDigest

When democracies hit midlife crisis

     

Democracy in the Philippines turned 34 last week. The nation commemorated the peaceful mass demonstration that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power, analyst Nicole Curato observes. A group of protesters… Read more »

How authoritarians subvert constitutional constraints

     

Today’s authoritarians use legal measures to subvert constitutional constraints on their power, note analysts Tim Horley, Anne Meng and Mila Versteeg. Our original study documents all term-limit-evasion strategies worldwide since the year… Read more »

Could Ethiopia’s transition be ‘derailed’?

     

Africa’s second-most populous country is heading into its first multiparty campaign season after Ethiopia’s prime minister, Nobel Prize-winner Abiy Ahmed, lifted a ban on opposition parties, dissolved his own ruling party… Read more »

Autocratization poses challenge for democracy assistance strategies

     

Illiberals are neither fully committed to civil liberties – such as freedom of expression, assembly and association – and the rule of law, nor totally devoted to the institutions that… Read more »

‘Changing the Face of Politics’: Women shaking Pakistan’s patriarchy

     

He calls himself “Pakistan’s biggest feminist”, but soap opera writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar sparked a national row this week after he hurled abuse at a women’s rights activist on live television,… Read more »

Democracy and rule of law in a ‘delicate equilibrium’

     

A former close ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan applied on Monday to register a new political party to challenge his ruling AK Party, saying Turkey needed a “fresh start”… Read more »

Sudan accused of masterminding lethal attacks on civil society protests

     

Sudanese security forces systematically planned and coordinated a series of deadly attacks that killed up to 241 pro-democracy protesters and injured hundreds more at a Khartoum sit-in last year, an inquiry has found,… Read more »

Generation Game: Young Africans want more democracy

     

Across Africa the demand for democracy is outstripping supply. Young, urban populations want the right to express themselves, vote in fair elections and hold leaders to account—at the same time… Read more »