Democracy Research News is the electronic newsletter of the Network of Democracy Research Institutes (NDRI), a membership association of institutions that conduct and publish research on democracy and democratic development. It is one of several functional networks associated with the World Movement for Democracy. To submit comments or to inquire about joining the Network, please write to Melissa Aten-Becnel.

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Inside this Issue:

1. News and Announcements
2. 
   
   New Publications and Recent Events by NDRI Members
   • Africa
   • Asia and the Pacific
   • Europe
   • Latin America
   • Middle East
   • Russia and the Former Soviet Union
   • United States and Canada

1. News and Announcements

Call for CVs for Public Policy Experts Initiative Database:
The Romanian Academic Society (SAR) recently launched a new database of public policy experts in Romania and abroad to feature experts in all fields of public policy that will allow citizens to demand better governance and more rational policy formulation. All experts in the database hold relevant academic degrees in their field of specialization or are already employed by an acknowledged organization. To apply to be included in the database, please send your CV and publications list (or two references if you have not been published in peer-reviewed publications) to office@sar.org.ro with Public Policy Experts Initiative in the subject line. You can contact any expert listed in the database by writing to the same address. The database can be accessed here.

Call for Applications: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships in Washington, D.C.:
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program at the International Forum for Democratic Studies (IFDS, U.S.) invites applications for fellowships in 2012–2013. This federally funded program enables democracy activists, practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change. Dedicated to international exchange, this five-month, residential program offers a collegial environment for fellows to reflect on their experiences; conduct independent research and writing; consider best practices and lessons learned; engage with counterparts in the United States; and develop professional relationships within a global network of democracy advocates.

The program is intended primarily to support practitioners, scholars, and journalists from developing and aspiring democracies; distinguished scholars from established democracies may also apply. A working knowledge of English is required. All fellows receive a monthly payment, health insurance, travel assistance, and research support. The program does not fund professional training, fieldwork, or students working towards a degree. The program will host two five-month fellowship sessions in 2012–2013: Fall 2012 (October 1, 2012–February 28, 2013) and Spring 2013 (March 1–July 31, 2013). More information and application instructions are available here. Flyers in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese are also available. Applications are due by Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

2. New Publications and Recent Events by NDRI Members

Africa

Afrobarometer recently released four working papers and three policy briefs. Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz and Dominique Lewis published the working paper, “Mapping Ideologies in African Landscapes,” which addresses the relative rarity of ideological appeals to voters by political candidates in Africa by focusing on the extent to which African parties are ideologically distinguishable. Using Afrobarometer data on median attitudes of parties’ bases, the authors find that more often than not, major parties have little to no diverging positions on major issues such as the role of the state in the economy or support for democratic norms. The paper goes on to explore both causes and effects of this lack of elite-generated ideological discourse.

“The Roots of Resilience: Exploring Popular Support for African Traditional Authorities,” by Carolyn Logan, seeks to determine how African traditional authorities have survived as respected and important figures in the face of the development of modern states, governments, and political systems. Existing research fails to reach a consensus, and often papers reach contradicting conclusions as to whether traditional authorities persist at the behest of the state and against the will of the people, or vice versa. Using Afrobarometer data from nineteen countries, Logan systematically assesses such hypotheses and finds “startling” levels of intense support for traditional authorities.

Michael Bratton, Ravi Bhavnani, and Tse-Hsin Chen published the working paper, “Voting Intentions in Africa: Ethnic, Economic, or Partisan?” The paper offers a comprehensive summary of popular voting intentions in new African electoral democracies. Using data from sixteen countries, the authors demonstrate that competitive elections in Africa are neither ethnic consensus nor economic referenda, but a combination of the two. While voters clearly tend to align themselves with parties associated with their ethnic group, they are also keenly aware of the economic consequences—unemployment, inflation, income distribution—of party policies, while also having considerable partisan motivations.

“Why Do Citizens Assent to Pay Tax? Legitimacy, Taxation and the African State,” by Michelle D’Arcy, addresses a question central to the existence of states—on what condition are private individuals willing to commit their personal income to public funds spent at the discretion of the state? Seeking to identify the expectations of reciprocal state responsibilities, the paper tests three distinct theoretical perspectives—a vertical relationship between citizens and state, the ‘national political community’ approach, and comparative treatment approach—with results that clearly challenge existing theories.

The March 2011 briefing paper, “Public Perceptions on Constitutional Reform in Zimbabwe,” details the results of an October 2010 survey of Zimbabweans seeking to assess both levels of awareness of and support for the Constitution and potential reforms. Impressively, more than three quarters indicated an awareness of their current constitution, with gaps between urban and rural, and male and female respondents. The paper goes into detail about sources of knowledge, the extent of knowledge, and opinions on the ongoing constitutional reform process.

“Trends in Public Opinion on Health Care in Zimbabwe: 1999–2010,” a briefing paper published in February 2011, analyzes a decade’s worth of opinion polling in Zimbabwe in search of significant trends regarding health care. The quality and quantity of healthcare available in Zimbabwe has, understandably, declined, mirroring the economic and political deterioration that the country has experienced since 1990, during which time life expectancy has dropped by more than twenty years. While problems are to be expected, the paper usefully identifies the areas respondents find most troubling, such as lack of access to clean food and water, high medical costs, and difficulty seeking treatment.

The January 2011 briefing paper, “The Uses of the Afrobarometer in Policy Planning, Program Design and Evaluation,” explores specific ways in which Afrobarometer data can be utilized to strengthen and enhance the policy-making and implementation processes. The needs and desires of the public are often left unconsulted in the creation of policy and services. By explicitly identifying these needs and desires, Afrobarometer data could make the inclusion of public opinion a far easier and more realistic task for service providers. As an area in which African regimes tend to be most deficient, use of the data could yield significant improvements.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, Nigeria) has published two editions of its newsletter, West African Insight. The February 2011 West African Insight has an entrepreneurial theme, with articles focusing on the challenges of running small and medium businesses in Africa. Subjects include: small business access to finance in Africa, access to internet and communication technologies, female entrepreneurship, and how small and medium businesses can alleviate poverty and mitigate conflict. The January 2011 issue explores the implications and challenges of increasing urbanization throughout West Africa. Articles address the transformative effect urbanization has on culture, how oil discovery in Ghana will likely lead to increased urbanization, the rise of urban gangs and crime rates as cities grow, and the infrastructure challenges posed by growing cities.

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) held its 7th annual Ghana Kronti ne Akwamu Lecture, featuring Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, the president of the African Women’s Development Fund and the first lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The lecture was attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Judiciary, academics, politicians, and civil society leaders. The speaker argued that in order to create real change, female leaders must first achieve “a critical mass” in leadership positions in government, business, and civil society.

The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) has published numerous items, including a report, policy paper, and case study. The report, “The State of Local Governance in South Africa from a Citizen Perspective,” edited by Paul van Hoof, documents the results of extensive citizen satisfaction surveys conducted by Idasa in the days leading to the local government elections held in mid 2011. The purpose was to determine the opinions of ordinary South Africans on the performance of their local governments over the previous four years to complement a previously conducted survey from 2009. The survey results confirm what has been widely reported: that many local governments are in deeply rooted states of systemic distress.

“Public Participation and Social Accountability in the South African Public Transport System,” is a policy paper from Idasa’s New Mobility Initiative. The paper seeks to clearly link the important relationship between public transportation services and poverty alleviation and economic development. As such, the paper argues the need for public transportation is particularly acute in South Africa as land distribution and social amenities tend to mirror income disparities, resulting in the isolation of the poor far from areas of economic opportunity and service distribution centers. Decades of persistent underinvestment in public transport and infrastructure have only served to exacerbate the situation.

The case study, “From Analysis to Impact,” demonstrates the extent to which civil society budget analysis and advocacy can have on government budget policies and priorities. The study documents the efforts of several civil society groups to place greater emphasis on education and investigates the extent to which Tanzania’s resulting progress in increasing school enrollment has been accompanied by the maintenance or improvement of the quality of education. The document is available here.

Finally, Idasa has published new editions of two newsletters. The April 2011 Right to Know, Right to Education quarterly newsletter provides updates on the organization’s work in Ghana, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as new partnerships, recent events, and events and projects that are on the horizon. The March 2011 Democracy in Action considers the potential impact the spread of popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa may have on regimes in Africa and the work of democracy activists throughout the region.

Asia and the Pacific

The Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI, Australia) has recently hosted three conferences related to democracy and governance. On February 10, 2011, CDI and Senior Researcher Hazelia Margaretha held the seminar, “Assessing Indonesia’s Parliamentary Performance: Progress or Decline?” The seminar investigated charges that the current DPR, despite being better educated and younger than past parliaments, has failed to continue the progress of transformation that has turned it from Suharto’s rubber stamp into one of Indonesia’s most effective institutions on its path to democratic consolidation. Full details can be found here.

The 4th Annual CDI Effective Parliamentary Committee Inquiries Course was held in Sydney from February 14–18, 2011, and was co-hosted by the New South Wales Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The course is specifically designed to educate parliamentary committee staff on the practicalities of supporting committee inquiries, developing terms of reference, planning and budgeting, inviting written submissions, conducting public hearings, and drafting parliamentary reports. Officials from East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and six other countries participated.

Finally, CDI held the symposium, “Fundamental to Democracy: Parliamentary Research and Library Services,” from March 1–4, 2011, in conjunction with the Australian Parliamentary Library. The course assisted the development of parliamentary libraries throughout the Pacific region by sharing information and best practices, best fit research services, and building staff capacity and knowledge. Full details on the symposium, individual areas of study, and participants can be found here.

The Centre for Policy Research (CPR, India) recently published a briefing paper and a book chapter. The briefing paper, “Field Notes on Accountability: New Spaces of Participation,” reviews the progress of the National Rural Health Mission launched by the Indian government in 2005 to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare in rural areas. Through “architectural corrections” in the nation’s healthcare delivery system, the initiative intends to increase quality by decentralizing hospital management, making decision-makers directly accessible and accountable to those they are meant to serve. Full details can be found here.

Pratap Mehta contributed the chapter, “The Politics of Social Justice,” to the book Business Standard India 2011. The book confronts the vital issues facing present day India by presenting expert viewpoints and analysis. Mehta’s chapter contrasts the optimism brought about by the pervasive belief in India today that real social and economic change for all of Indian society is attainable with the realities imposed by political, judicial, and economic institutions, values, and prejudices.

The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has published three reports and two editions of its newsletter, PILDAT Legislative Brief. The report, “How to Review Budget and Demands for Grants? A Guide for Parliamentary Standing Committees,” seeks to provide legislators and staffers with a better understanding of the budgetary process in order to enhance the quality of financial legislation and increase the effectiveness of expenditures. By consolidating financial and legislative information, such as principles of good budgeting, accountability, resource prioritization, and methods of budget review into a single resource, the authors hope to have created a tool that will be of value to legislators and their staff. The report can be accessed here.

“Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: A Pakistani Narrative” seeks to advance the understanding of Pakistan’s perspective on the nature of the two countries’ relationship. Covering key areas of concern and importance, such as trade ties, Afghan refugees, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and water management, the report seeks to clarify the justifications and reasoning behind Pakistani positions and concerns in order to foster greater dialogue, ultimately strengthening the relationship. The report can be accessed here.

PILDAT published two editions of PILDAT Legislative Brief in February 2011. “Number 11: The Draft Compulsory Immunization Bill” summarizes a proposed bill which, as the title suggests, would make immunization for a number of diseases compulsory throughout Pakistan. Additionally, PILDAT provides analysis of the merits, weaknesses, and potential implications of the bill’s passage. “Number 12: The Elections Laws Amendment Bill, 2011” addresses a bill under consideration in the Senate of Pakistan that seeks to amend existing electoral laws to meet new requirements imposed by the passage of the country’s eighteenth amendment. It seeks to decentralize authority over the electoral process from a Chief Election Commissioner to an Election Commission, create more rigid standards for voter registration and identification, as well as other measures meant to increase the fairness and transparency of future elections.

Finally, the report “Civil-Military Relations in Germany,” is the result of an exchange program facilitated by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and PILDAT that sent the PILDAT Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations, Members of Parliament, and academics to Germany for a study visit focusing on the German model of civil-military relations and democratic control of the defense sector. The report can be accessed here.

The East Asia Institute (EAI, South Korea) published a book documenting the transformation of South Korea from an agrarian to an industrialized country, another on public diplomacy in East Asia, and a third on voter behavior in South Korea. EAI also published five working papers and two issue briefs. Byung-Kook Kim and Ezra Vogel published The Park Chung Hee Era: The Transformation of South Korea in April 2011. The book analyzes the contradictions, successes, and political and social costs of Park Chung Hee’s presidency and the transformative impact it had on all aspects of life in South Korea. A study in the complex politics of modernization, the book draws on a wide range of sources to clarify and contextualize South Korea’s journey from poverty to sustainable high rate economic growth.

Public Diplomacy and Soft Power in East Asia, by Sook-Jong Lee and Jan Melissen, shows the continuing importance, far greater than in the West, that soft power plays in East Asia through empirical measurement and critical examination. The book fills in previously unexplained empirical gaps and informs on the broader conceptual and theoretical debates surrounding public diplomacy, soft power, and their roles in East Asia.

Changing Korea Voters 4: Analysis of the 2010 Korean Local Election Panel Studies, by Nae-Young Lee and Sung-Hak Lim, is the fourth study in an ongoing effort to chart the political views of South Koreans and their resulting voting habits. The report has two parts, “Major Issues and Voting Behavior of the 2010 Local Election,” which considers, among other variables, the impact of the Cheonan Incident and incumbency advantages, and “Divisions in Korean Society and the Local Election,” which addresses regionalism as well as the relationship between ideology and voting.

Working papers included: “Path to an Advanced North Korea by 2032: Building a Complex Networked State,” by Young-Sun Ha; “Post-Crisis World Order,” with multiple contributors; “The Post-Crisis Era and Change in the Korean Peninsula’s Security Order,” by Jihwan Hwang; “The Twenty First Century Global Culture Order in the Post-Crisis Era,” by Jun-seok Kim; and “Post-Crisis Globalization: Citizenship, Multiculturalism, Democracy and Religion,” by Sung-Woo Park. The issue briefs cover the implications of U.S. – China relations for the Korean peninsula, as well as South Korean public opinion towards North Korea following the attack on Yeonpyeong Island.

The Sejong Institute (South Korea) has published three editions of its newsletter, Current Issues and Policies, covering February, March, and April 2011, as well as a book Northeast Asian geopolitics. The book, Northeast Asia Triangular Cooperation: Korea-US-China and Korea-China-Japan by Tai-hwan Lee, studies the possibility of developing and implementing a Northeast Asia security and economic cooperation framework between South Korea, the United States, and China and between South Korea, China, and Japan. The book goes on to draw conclusions on how the implementation of one or both of these triangular blocks would alter relations between countries in the region, as well as effects upon the region as a whole.

The April 2011 Current Issues and Policies, includes four articles, two on economic and military issues within North Korea, and two on the impact of Chinese policies on South Korea. The articles are available here. The March 2011 Current Issues and Policies is comprised of five articles on the outlook for Six-Party Talks on North Korea following the U.S.–China summit, South Korean military readiness, an article on South Korean economic and labor issues, as well as one addressing the revolutions in the Middle East. The articles are available here. Finally, the February 2011 issue includes articles on the U.S.–China Summit, an assessment of the North Korean economy in 2011, and an article on needed changes to South Korea’s diplomatic efforts. The articles are available here.

The Institute for National Policy Research (INPR, Taiwan) has published two editions of its Taiwan Perspective newsletter since the January 2011 Democracy Research News that touch upon pertinent issues. “No. 183: Taiwan in 2010,” documents internal power struggles within the Nationalist Party’s (KMT) leadership for the control and direction of the party, as well as how a series of disasters and challenges has weakened public support for Taiwan’s dominant party. Despite efforts to halt the decline, KMT experienced significant setbacks in the January and February 2010 elections. The paper also documents the party’s efforts to rebuild support and turn it into electoral victories.

"No. 178: The Limits of the Middle Road," also dealing with domestic electoral issues, focuses specifically on the results of the 2010 mayoral elections, which chipped away at KMT’s position as the country’s dominant party. Despite securing seats in Taipei City, Xinbei City, and Greater Taichung, cumulatively, the Democratic Progressive Party received 400,000 more votes than KMT, spelling potential trouble for KMT in the 2012 presidential elections. Data suggests the possibility of a significant and ongoing trend of declining support for KMT throughout Taiwan.

Europe

The Access to Information Program (AIP, Bulgaria) and Internet Society Bulgaria held the “Big Brother Anti-Awards” ceremony on February 16, 2011, at the National Press Center of the Bulgarian News Agency. The awards seek to draw attention to privacy issues and privacy protection by highlighting those in Bulgarian society, including government institutions, private companies, and individuals, who have “done the most to invade personal privacy.” This year’s nominees included a parliamentary subcommittee, the Minister of Internal Affairs, a communications company, a bank, and a recently passed piece of legislation. Details of the event, nominees, and winners can be found here.

The Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS, Bulgaria) held a conference in Batumi, Georgia, on “Agents of Reform in the Black Sea Region: National Agendas and International Assistance,” as part of the Black Sea Young Reformers Fellowship program. The conference gathered young professionals, policy executives, and experts to advocate and debate policy issues related to security, development, and regional cooperation in the Black Sea region. A conference report can be accessed here.

Elena Baracani of the Italian Research Center for European Studies (CIRES, Italy) edited the recently published book, Democratization and Hybrid Regimes: International Anchoring and Domestic Dynamics in European Post-Soviet States. The book, recognizing that transitions to electoral democracy are often successful, focuses on the more difficult to achieve consolidation of democracy, how to achieve it, and the consequences of a failure to consolidate. One specific consequence is the growing number of hybrid regimes in the region and the book examines Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine in an effort to fully understand the issue within the post-Soviet context. Purchasing information and further details are available here.

The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS, Moldova) has published five issues of its Foreign Policy Statewatch newsletter, a book, and two policy papers. The Audit of the Democratic System of Republic of Moldova: Anthology of Analysis on Governance, with contributions by eight authors, provides an issue by issue analysis of the effectiveness of Moldovan governance in fulfilling its obligations and meeting the needs of its citizens. Starting with “Citizenship, Law and Rights,” the book continues to “Representative and Accountable Government,” “Civil Society and Popular Participation,” and “Democracy beyond the State.” The book, in its entirety, is available in electronic form here.

The policy paper, “The Black Book of Moldovan Mass-Media,” edited by Ghenadie Mocanu, examines the state of mass media and media organizations, as well as the level of freedom of expression available in Moldova. The report covers instances of assaults on journalists, state censorship of journalists and news organizations, access to information, and analysis of specific cases of legal actions taken against journalists and media organizations. The paper concludes with recommendations for expanding rights related to freedom of expression rights and protecting individuals engaged in journalism and mass media professions.

“The EU’s Conditionality in the Case of Moldova (2001–2009): Failure or Success?” a policy paper by Leonid Litra, outlines the various tools utilized by the European Union to encourage changes in policy and practice by states in exchange for improved relations, trade opportunities, and the potential for eventual EU membership, as well as specific policy instruments used to encourage democratic and economic changes in Moldova. The paper then assess the impact conditionality has had in achieving the desired changes and recommendations for improved results.

Finally, five editions of Moldova’s Foreign Policy Statewatch have been recently published on the following topics: “Visit of the American Vice-President Joe Biden in Moldova,” “Poland’s Presidency: An Opportunity to Gain Recognition of Moldova’s European Prospects,” “The Transnistrian Demilitarization in the Context of Remodeling Military-Strategic Balance in Europe,” “Does Moldova Need Low-cost Airlines,” and “The Post-Electoral Bid of Geopolitical Visits in the Republic of Moldova.” Each issue can be accessed here.

The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM, Montenegro) published the report, “Context Analysis of the Security Sector Reform in Montenegro (1989–2009),” through its “Civil Society Capacity Building Project,” a regional partnership of NGOs and think tanks examining and documenting civil society development throughout the Western Balkans. This specific report examines changes and improvements in the conduct of Montenegro’s security institutions with respect to the effectiveness and respect for rule of law and the rights of the country’s citizens. Details can be found here.

The Romanian Academic Society (SAR, Romania) has published the report, “Beyond Perception: Has Romania’s Governance Improved after 2004?” in which the authors examine the progress Romania has made in meeting its governance improvement commitments demanded under the 2005 Schengen area membership agreement. However, particularly in regards to corruption, “little progress is perceived by observers or captured with governance measurements.” This report seeks to go beneath the surface of appearances to assess what progress, if any, has been made in improving Romania’s governance.

The Institute for Public Affairs (IVO, Slovakia) presented its new publication Visegrad Elections 2010: Domestic Impact and European Consequences, edited by Olga Gyarfasova and Grigorij Meseznikov, at an event in Prague. The book documents the process and results of the 2010 parliamentary elections in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, along with the presidential vote in Poland, presenting them as an “important milestone” for each country’s democratic progress individually, as well as their importance in regional and European contexts.

The Democratization and Rule of Law Program of FRIDE (La Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior, Spain) published a book on the foreign policy of the European Union and three policy briefs addressing varied issues, including democracy in the Middle East, human rights in South Asia, and EU policy on Palestine.

Challenges for European Foreign Policy in 2011: After the Crisis, published in January 2011, examines what was a turbulent 2010 for the European Union, where cooperation and integration was lacking and the euro crisis strained the union to its limits. The book aims to guide the EU’s foreign policy in a more effective direction by identifying the ten most important foreign policy challenges that the European Union will face in 2011. Further details can be found here.

The policy brief by Richard Youngs, “What Not to Do in the Middle East and North Africa,” cautions European policy makers against a number of potential approaches to the unrest in the Middle East which, in his opinion, would produce negative effects in the “remolded” Middle East. Also by Richard Youngs, “After Peace Talks: What Next for EU Policy in Palestine,” addresses the immediate future of peace talks, including Palestinian plans to unilaterally seek UN recognition should an agreement not be reached with Israel by August 2011. The final policy brief, by Clare Castillejo, “Sri Lanka: The Failure of EU Human Rights Sanctions,” examines why, despite strong sanctions and incentives imposed by the EU to promote human rights protections, along with significant aid and economic ties, these efforts have had little impact on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The author pursues the causes of this failure in order to inform more effective efforts in South Asia going forward.

The Quality of Government Institute (QoG, Sweden) has published four working papers on immigration, public service provision, perceptions of corruption and the ethnography of corruption. “Losing Gamble: Mainstream Parties’ Failed Strategy to Counter Anti-Immigrant Parties,” by Carl Dahlström and Anders Sundell, analyzes the various tactics mainstream parties have taken to neutralize the message of anti immigrant parties, ranging from countering these messages to co-opting them in an attempt to steal away voters, to determine which, if any, tactics are most effective. The results show that the only way to effectively neutralize the most extreme messages is for all major parties to strengthen their stances against anti-immigration messages.

“Quality of Government and Access to Safe Water,” by Sören Holmberg and Bo Rothstein, examines whether or not a link exists between the quality of government in an area and the availability of clean water in their March 2011 working paper. Considering that 80 percent of all illnesses in the developing world result from waterborne diseases, resulting in millions of deaths per year, proving such a link would provide further value in governance strengthening and development efforts. Utilizing a variety of data sources, the authors argue that a casual relationship does in fact exist between quality of government and access to clean drinking water in the developing world.

Jonas Linde and Gissur Erlingsson published a working paper on “The Effect of Public Perceptions of Corruption on System Support: The Case of Sweden.” As a result of a number of corruption scandals involving Swedish public officials in recent years, the authors investigate two empirical questions: 1) to what extent do Swedish citizens believe that corruption constitutes a serious problem? and 2) how do citizens’ evaluations of the extent of public corruption affect support for the performance of the democratic system? Their results suggest a considerably greater impact on public perception than previously thought or generally reflected in evaluations of corruption in Sweden.

Finally, Davide Torsello published the working paper, “The Ethnography of Corruption: Research Themes in Political Anthropology.” Noting the minimal role played by anthropology in the considerable literature on corruption, the author seeks to determine an explanation for this underrepresentation. He goes on to demonstrate that the ethnographic study of corruption has the capacity to provide original and empirically relevant insights. The paper can be read in full here.

The European Stability Initiative (ESI, Turkey) has released a report on activism in Azerbaijan and a report on religious tolerance and nationalism in Turkey. “Generation Facebook in Baku: Adnan, Emin and the Future of Dissent in Azerbaijan,” documents the experience of two young Azerbaijani men who became democracy activists and were subsequently imprisoned for opposing the country’s increasing authoritarianism and corruption. The report also provides a historical perspective of the country’s journey from a communist to authoritarian state, as well as what the author’s argue has been the failure of the US, EU, and international organizations to address Azerbaijan’s increasing repression.

The second report, “Murder in Anatolia: Christian Missionaries and Turkish Ultranationalism,” investigates the murders of three Christians in the Anatolia region of Turkey in 2007. Their report alleges the involvement of organized crime, state security organizations, and a number of prominent ultranationalists in a crime meant to intimidate Christians, by silencing three prominent and vocal Christian missionaries. The report indicates the possibility of disturbing goals by rogue elements within the government and a troublingly large network of sympathizers and supporters. The full report can be read here.

The Centre for the Study of Public Policy (CSPP, United Kingdom) has recently released several new editions in its paper series. Derek Hutchinson wrote “Election Observation and the Politicisation of Democracy,” which “examines the involvement of international election observation missions” in Russian elections over the last two decades, particularly the legal and normative bases of international election monitoring. The paper has a specific focus on the missions of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and culminates with a review of political and internal conflicts that led to the 2007 crisis over allowing international observers for the 2007 State Duma election.

“Democratizing the Measurement of Democratic Quality: Public Attitude Data and the Evaluation of African Political Regimes,” by Carolyn Logan and Robert Mattes, investigates the degree to which public evaluations can be used to measure the procedural and substantive dimensions of the Quality of Democracy framework. Using Afrobarometer data, the authors argue that ordinary Africans regularly provide valuable evaluations of the overall supply of democracy while also distinguishing between dimensions of democratic performance.

Stephen White and Ian McAllister published “Public Opinion in Russia, 2010,” which details the results of a national survey of more than 2,000 Russian citizens conducted in early 2010 that covered self-assessed living standards, the effects of the economic crisis, and attitudes towards civic institutions, political leaders, electoral behavior, the media, and foreign policy perspectives. Foreign policy issues addressed included asking respondents to deem other countries as friends or foes, and opinions on NATO and the EU. The paper is available here.

“Is There a Demand for Referendums on Europe?” by Richard Rose and Gabriela Borz, recognizes that both proponents and opponents of the European Union endorse the idea of periodic referendums on the European Union’s continuation and examines the pros and cons of a continuation of the “status quo,” where individual states infrequently hold referendums, as well as introducing regular, pan-European referendums.

Ian McAllister and Stephen White published, “Public Opinion in Ukraine, 2010,” which details the results of a national representative survey conducted in Ukraine between January 15 and 24, 2010. The survey addresses political preferences, voter choices in the January 2010 presidential race, living standards and ownership, trust in civic institutions and political participation, corruption, religion, post-Soviet change, post-Orange revolution opinions, and the recent economic crisis. The paper can be found here.

Latin America

The Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC, Argentina) published an edited volume entitled La Gran Buenos Aires: Rompecabezas metropolitano (Greater Buenos Aires: A Metropolitan Jigsaw Puzzle) evaluating the institutional capacity of the metropolitan government in Buenos Aires. Several chapters are dedicated to reviewing management problems related to the delivery of specific public services, including urban solid waste management, security, and public transportation. The authors also investigate the structure of local governance institutions and make recommendations for institutional reform.

In coordination with the Government of Santa Fe Province, CIPPEC recently created a training program to educate election day officials and table monitors on implementing the single ballot in Argentina’s upcoming primaries in May and during the general elections in July. CIPPEC has launched a video presentation on YouTube to explain how the single ballot works and to describe the advantages offered by the single ballot over the previously used party ballots.

The Center for Opening and Development in Latin America (CADAL, Argentina) published 15 new political analysis articles and 5 working papers since the January edition of Democracy Research News. Recent articles of interest to democracy scholars include “¿Humala sería como Chávez o Lula?” (Humala, Will he be like Chávez or Lula) by Patricio Navia; “UNASUR: De la ideologización al pragmatismo” (UNASUR: From Ideology to Pragmatism) by Hugo Machín; “Por qué Cuba no seguirá a las revoluciones que sacuden a Medio Oriente y el Norte de África” (Why Cuba will not Continue the Revolutions from the Middle East and North Africa) by Christopher Sabatini; and “América latina ante Kaddafi” (Latin America in Front of Qaddafi) by Pablo Díaz de Brito.

In February the Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP, Colombia) published a special edition of Perspectivas focusing on Venezuela. Entitled “La Sencilla Complejidad de la Realidad Venezolana” (The Simple Complexity of Venezuelan Reality), the special edition explores why a country with as much potential and natural wealth as Venezuela has failed to generate economic growth and address the social and economic concerns of its citizens. The articles focus on a variety of topics, including Venezuela’s economic underdevelopment and the role of the oil industry, a panorama of the political opposition, opportunities for national dialogue, the role of the military, self-censorship in the media, and Chavez’s ambitions for power, among others.

The Latinobarómetro (Chile) has made its Data Analysis tool freely available for public use on its website. The Data Analysis feature allows the user to browse through Latinobarómetro’s question indexes, question texts, and responses. Users can organize data by country and year from 1995 through 2009 and also have the option to view the data in both table and graph format.

In February, Latinobarómetro also published a brief two-page report, “La Imágen De Venezuela” (The Image of Venezuela) summarizing data from its opinion polls in and about Venezuela. The summary seeks to address the question of why 84 percent of Venezuelans express support for democracy when most citizens in other countries of the region rank Venezuela as one of the least democratic countries in Latin America. According to Latinobarómetro, the contrasting data reveals that Venezuelans and other Latin Americans define democracy in different ways.

The Instituto Centroamericano de Gobernabilidad initiative of the Centro Estudios para el Futuro (Costa Rica) held a workshop in April on “Procesos de Descentralización, Desconcentración y Fortalecimiento del Régimen Municipal en Costa Rica” (Processes of Decentralization, Autonomy, and Strengthening of Municipalities in Costa Rica). Approximately 35 experts on municipal governance were in attendance at the workshop in order to discuss the implementation of a new national law which transfers more executive authority to Costa Rica’s municipal governments. Presenters at the workshop highlighted the importance of building local citizenry and conducting long-term planning at the local level, while local governance experts emphasized the importance of building the capacity of local administrators who could follow-through on the long-term implementation of policies.

Grupo Faro (Ecuador) organized a forum entitled Ecuador Será (What Ecuador will Be) in March to discuss ways to make Ecuador a “society of knowledge.” In cooperation with Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio, Fundación Ecuador, and three Ecuadorian universities, the conference brought together speakers from various sectors and the education community to discuss how to improve Ecuador’s higher education system and encourage students to think creatively and promote innovation. Presentations made by the conference speakers are available on Grupo FARO’s website.

Also in March, Grupo Faro hosted a meeting of the Collective of Ecuadorian Civil Society Organizations to launch its “Informe de Rendición Colectiva de Cuentas 2010” (Collective Financial Accountability Report 2010). At the meeting, representatives from the 49 civil society organizations in attendance signed onto the report as a sign of commitment that their organizations would take measures to demonstrate financial transparency by reporting on their budgets, operations, and sources of funding. The report includes aggregate data collected from all of the participating organizations and is published with the purpose of demonstrating solidarity within civil society despite the diversity among organizations and areas of work.

FUNDAR (Mexico) published the March–September edition of its e-newsletter Comunidad Curul 501. This edition focuses on the role of Mexico’s legislative branch and includes several articles discussing potential reforms for advancing government transparency and access to information, improving constitutional protection of human rights, and implementing recommendations made by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights to strengthen the autonomy of authorities administering military justice.

Middle East

The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) recently published three editions of its monthly newsletter, Terrorism and Democracy, which aims to “shed light on relatively unknown counterterrorism measures and policies” in Israel, and held an event featuring the presentation of a report on government reforms. The January, February, and March 2011 editions of Terrorism and Democracy cover a range of issues related to counterterrorism and military activities, policies, court rulings, and legislation. Specific issues covered in these editions include court rulings on artillery strikes on Gaza and detainees being denied attorney visits, the release of reports on Israel’s investigation of the flotilla incident, summaries of recent reports by other NGOs, and an evaluation of a proposed bill limiting the rights of prisoners to access attorneys.

At the end of March, IDI’s leadership presented a report on reforms and actions to address the “urgent need to generate significant improvement in the capabilities and functioning of the Knesset” to the leader of the Israeli legislature, Reuven Rivlin. The result of two years of research and analysis by the IDI’s Forum for Political Reform, as well as numerous consultations and workshops with academics, retired judges, politicians, and public figures from business and civil society, the report has formulated practical proposals for structural reforms to the Knesset itself, as well as changes to the Israeli electoral system.

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) has released the results of two recent public opinion surveys from March and April 2011 detailing Palestinian opinions on issues pertinent to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, protests and uprising from around the region, and issues of everyday life and the Palestinian government. PSR’s March Palestinian Public Opinion Poll was conducted shortly after the revolts across the Arab world, al-Jazeera leaks of PLO documents on Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, and a U.S. veto of a resolution denouncing Israeli settlements in the U.N. Security Council. The results show an increased disdain for the Palestinian Authority, Fateh, Hamas, and the United States, as well as an increased openness to protests. Full details of the results can be found here.

A March Joint Israeli Palestinian Poll, conducted in partnership with the Harry Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focused specifically on how the demonstrations across the Arab world impacted the opinions of Israeli and Palestinian respondents. While both sides felt that some degree of similar protests by Palestinians was likely to occur, both Israelis and Palestinians found it to be very unlikely that such protests would have the capacity to meaningfully impact or change the status quo concerning occupation or settlement activity. Additionally, a majority of Palestinians condemned the Itamar settlement attack in which an Israeli family was killed and led to a sizable military response by Israel. Full details can be found here.

The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) published Headscarf Ban and Discrimination: Professional Headscarved Women in the Labor Market, by Dilek Cindoğlu, in which the author analyzes the ramifications of the headscarf ban on the private and public sector employment of headscarved women in Turkey. The book, a result of two years of field research in Ankara, Konya, and Istanbul, finds that “women with headscarves are exposed to various forms of discrimination and their rights are continuously and systematically violated.” Furthermore, the research shows how the adverse and discriminatory effects of the headscarf ban in the public sector carry over into the private sector.

In February 20011, TESEV published “Just Expectations: Compilations of TESEV Research Studies on the Judiciary in Turkey,” a compendium of summaries of the studies carried out under the project on the “Perception and Mentality Patterns in and on the Judiciary.” Written by Mithat Sancar, Suavi Aydın, Meryem Erdal, and Eylem Ümit Atılgan, the report covers three aspects of the democratization process: judges and prosecutors, society’s perception of the judiciary, and media’s perception of the judiciary. The report also identifies problems citizens encounter with the judiciary and recommends solutions.

Finally, in partnership with the Center for American Progress, TESEV held a presentation on “Perspectives of Turkey in the Middle East” based on the findings of the report of the same name. Both address the “regional perceptions of Turkey, democracy, Iran, and Turkey’s role and influence in the region;” as well as how these findings might influence the U.S-Turkey relationship. The report seeks to clarify how Turkey’s expanding influence in the region, growing prosperity, and unique geopolitical space will impact the region and Turkey’s notion of its own interests and responsibilities.

In April 2011, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID, U.S.) held its twelfth annual conference, which had the timely theme, “Tunisia’s and Egypt’s Revolutions and Transitions to Democracy.” The conference focused both on each country’s individual path forward, as well as the broader impact the revolutions may have across the Arab world, implications for U.S. foreign policy and democracy assistance programs, and lessons that can be learned by advocates and practitioners. Conference information can be found here and video of the event can be accessed here.

Russia and the Former Soviet Union

Following the post-electoral protests that occurred in Belarus, the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS) published several papers that examines the causes of the protests, the government’s response, and the implications for domestic politics and international relations. “Square 2010: Scenario and Preliminary Results,” by Dzianis Melyantsou, seeks to clarify the actions and motivations behind a December 19th anti-government protest that eventually turned violent and included an attempt to storm the government offices of the Central Election Commission. The author identifies the potential implications of these protests-gone-wrong for the Belarusian government, oppositions groups and their leaders, as well as the country’s relationship with the West.

“Requiem for a Dialog or Unaccomplished Play for Mechanical Brussels,” by Vitali Silitski, also addresses the December 19th protests, seeking to clarify how they started, who should bear responsibility, whether or not they were designed to disrupt talks between the European Union and President Lukashenko, and if the protests will result in the loosening of the country’s power structure. While Vitali Silitski’s paper focuses primarily on EU–Belarus relations and the balance of power between regional and domestic players, “Consequences of December 19: Internal Political Scenarios,” by Alexei Pukulik, casts doubt on the government assertion that it had no choice but to respond violently to the protests, suggesting that the resulting chaos provided distraction from an election not going in the government’s favor. After laying out a case that the events of December 19 were not a simple matter of over enthused protesters, the author tries to outline how the protests and the government reaction will impact society going forward.

BISS also released a special issue of its newsletter, Biss Blitz, entitled “Belarus–EU: Old Songs Remixed,” which addresses the December 19th protests in terms of the European Union’s response, including the process of implementing sanctions and predictions for the future of Belarus–EU relations and the best means for the reestablishment of “normal” relations.

Finally, the February 2011 edition of Biss Trends, the Institute’s quarterly publication, focuses on analyzing the potential implications of five current trends in Belarusian policy: political liberalization and democratization; economic liberalization; good governance and rule of law; the country’s geopolitical orientation; and current cultural policies. The newsletter also covers the political protests organized by opposition leaders that devolved into a violent attack on government buildings, with widespread implications for the opposition and the country.

In February 2011 the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD, Georgia) released a series of reports that address peace, security, and stability in Georgia in a regional and national context. The reports assess the current situations in each region and then offer strategies and tangible steps, tailored to each community, which could be taken to enhance the levels of security and stability as the country seeks to recover from its 2008 war with Russia, mitigate existing ethnic and political tensions, and generally move the country in a positive direction. Reports are available for Georgia, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Samegrelo, and Kvemo Kartli.

In January, the Carnegie Moscow Center hosted an event on “The Return: Russia’s Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev,” which presented Daniel Treisman’s new book of the same title and was followed by discussion featuring the author and a panel of commentators, as they discussed how the confluence of economy, politics and personality have long shaped Russia’s direction and determined its leaders, as well as how this tendency may shape the country’s future.

Another recent event, “EU/NATO–Russia: The View from Paris,” featured Thomas Gomart and Dmitri Trenin, who shared their thoughts on recent “significant” efforts by the European Union and NATO to engage Russia as a meaningful partner for France and the European Union as a whole. The presentation discussed the evolving role of France in both the EU and NATO, and how this evolution could impact these organization’s relationships with Russia.

Volume 14 of the Center’s journal, Pro et Contra, entitled, “Russia–2020,” has been published. This edition features a collection of articles by Russian and international political analysts envisioning how different aspects of Russian policy, government, economy and society will look in the year 2020. Articles predict the evolution of Russia’s party system, the state of its military, foreign policy stances, the nature of the current conflicts in the Caucasus, and Russian–European relations, among others.

Finally, Alexey Malashenko published a policy brief, “The Limits of Endless Revolution,” which considers the potential limits on the revolutions and protests currently underway in the Arab and Muslim worlds. He considers surprises such as the relatively minimal influence of Islamic radicals, as well as the influence the revolutions have had in spurring reforms in countries which have experience minimal opposition such as Algeria, Jordan, and Morocco and pushing authoritarian regimes outside of the Middle East to tighten their grip, as in Central Asia.

The International Centre for Policy Studies has published five editions of its ICPS Newsletter since January 2011 on a variety of topics, including the U.S. role in European-Russian energy politics, the potential for the Arab revolts to follow in the footsteps of Ukraine’s failed revolution, and the role of the Ukrainian government in the market. Additionally, the Centre has published two of its “European Focus” policy briefs: “Why Viktor Yanukovych can’t win the 2015 Election,” by Vira Nanivska and “Playing with Power: The US role in Europe-Russia Natural Gas Politics,” by Vivica Williams.

Additionally, the Centre published two detailed policy reports, both of which focus on reforming aspects of Ukrainian policies and institutions. “Market Surveillance in Ukraine: Reforms on the Way to the European Market” is meant to provide critical analysis of present policy and needed reforms, as well as institution building activities necessary to increase access to European markets by implementing European norms into domestic economic practices. Recognizing the increasingly competitive nature of the global economy, the authors argue that Ukraine’s economic well-being is heavily dependent upon the country’s ability to establish a business-friendly environment with the economic freedoms and protections necessary for investor and consumer confidence.

“New Foreign Policy: Ukraine Has a Plan,” by Volodymyr Hranovskiy and Vira Nanivska, seeks to assess nearly every facet of Ukraine’s foreign policy, as well as influencing factors such as the Russian agenda on Ukraine, World Trade Organization membership, and potential European Union membership. The report also considers potential directions for Ukrainian approaches to regional issues and the development of its neighborhood policy, with the report culminating in suggestions for a consolidated, coherent Ukrainian foreign policy program.

The Democratic Initiatives Foundation (Ukraine) continues to publish Focus on Ukraine, its weekly publication on political, economic, and social developments in Ukraine. Recent issues include the March 21–27, 2011, issue on “Case of Ukraine vs. Leonid Kuchma: A Victory for Justice or a Bluff?” that examines the investigation of former president Leonid Kuchma for ordering the politically motivated killing of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze and what it says about the development of human rights protections and the democratic process in Ukraine. The mere investigation of a former head of state, and his being barred from international travel, represents a considerable step forward in a country which traditionally has not held leaders legally accountable for their actions. Past issues address the relationship between power and corruption in Ukraine and an assessment of the first year achievements of Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov. An archive of all past newsletters can be found here.

United States and Canada

In March 2011, the Applied Research Center (ARC, U.S) published “Assessing Electoral Fraud in New Democracies: A New Strategic Approach,” by Staffan Darnolf, as part of the Center’s Electoral Fraud White Paper Series. The author outlines how election management bodies and other key electoral stakeholders can strengthen their capacity to more effectively combat electoral fraud in two distinct sections. The first section outlines the current and potential roles and responsibilities of the main national and international actors relevant for a strategy to combat electoral fraud. Based on these findings, the second part of the paper introduces a significantly improved electoral fraud model applicable to both developed and developing countries.

Rights & Democracy (Canada) has published two items, a report on mining conditions in Ecuador and a four chapter assessment of women’s rights and legal issues in Afghanistan. “Large Scale Mining in Ecuador and Human Rights Abuses: The Case of Corriente Resources, Inc.,” documents various rights abuses and threats to indigenous communities posed by large scale mining operations and the industry at large. The findings highlight the regular practice of criminalizing social protests, irregularities in the licensing, permit, and land acquisition process, as well as an assessment of the legal rights of individuals and communities affected by mining on paper, and their record of protection and enforcement.

The second publication, “A Woman’s Place: Perspectives on Afghanistan’s Evolving Legal Framework,” brings together four authors to address women’s rights in Afghanistan through the exploration of four overarching themes: the evolution of reforms in 20th century Afghanistan; civil society participation in the legislative process; the marriage contract and registration of marriages; and the gap between theoretical discourse and actual practice in respecting and protecting the rights of Afghani women.

Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy and Civil Society has published a new issue of its journal, Democracy and Society, which focuses on examining the Obama Administration’s relationships in the Middle East, its success in improving U.S.–Middle Eastern relations, and the implications of the current status for future relationships in the region, U.S. public support for regional engagement, and the ability of the United States to influence the region’s countries. The issue includes timely articles on “sustainable democracy promotion,” as well as U.S. efforts to democratize Iran and support continued democratization in Iraq and Egypt.

The Center for the Study of Democracy has published three recent papers on topics as varied as gay rights, the approval of torture, and the social dynamics between the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Published in February 2011, “Torture Approval in Comparative Perspective,” by Peter Miller, pursues the contradiction of American policies which simultaneously justify and legalize, as well as condemn acts of torture. The paper seeks to understand how and why some states accept the use of torture, while others do not, using international survey data to compare rates of torture approval with data on per capita income, limits on executive power, and the extent of domestic repression.

“Gay Rights and Legislative Wrongs: Representation of Gays and Lesbians,” by Benjamin Bishin and published in March 2011, begins with the passage of the “Defense of Marriage” bill in 1996 and follows the progression the stances of Democratic Party leaders with regard to gay rights and gay marriage and tries to explain the consistent opposition of many Democratic leaders, despite the party’s long-standing tradition as a champion of civil rights and the wide-spread support the party receives from the LGBT community. Also published in the March 2011 issue, “Drift, Draft, or Drag: How U.S. Supreme Court Justices React to New Members,” by Oleg Smirnov and Charles Anthony Smith, theorizes that Supreme Court justices react strategically to new members in an effort to preserve the Court’s institutional credibility. While sitting members rarely shift their ideologies dramatically, the addition of new members has the potential to drastically and quickly change the ideological balance of the court. The paper argues that sitting justices will adjust their dispositions in reaction to the addition of new members in an attempt to maintain the balance of the court.

Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law has recently held a number of events and seminars, as well as publishing papers and a book. These include the Center’s ongoing Liberation Technology series, an event series on human rights in Africa, and publications on the evolution of political order, regime survival, Middle Eastern authoritarianism, and public diplomacy.

Published in April, The Origins of Political Order, by Francis Fukuyama, documents the progression of human society from tribe to modern bureaucracy to document how today’s core political institutions developed. This is the first of a two part series that begins with the political dynamics of our ancestors and follows human progress to the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of modern states, the establishment of the rule of law, and the development of political accountability.

Abdul Nasser Al Muwaddah published the working paper, “Yemen Between Regime Survival and Systemic Change,” which explores the options available to Yemen and its president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in the face of the widespread and continued opposition protests demanding radical shifts towards true democratic reform that have continued since early 2011. The paper identifies and assesses possible options available to the president and proposes a particular roadmap as a potential resolution to the crisis.

“Authoritarian State Building in the Middle East: From Durability to Revolution,” by Sean Yom, a working paper published in February 2011, attempts to account for the variation in the durability of authoritarian regimes in the post-colonial Middle East by presenting a new explanation based on early geopolitical environments which necessitated a “ruler versus subject” dynamic.

“Public Diplomacy 2.0: An Exploratory Case Study of the Digital Outreach Team,” by Lina Khatib, William Dutton, and Michael Thelwall, assesses the process and reach of “The Digital Outreach Team,” a recent State Department initiative to engage directly with citizens in the Middle East via popular local-language internet forums, websites, and social media applications. The authors assess the policy and practice of the Digital Outreach Team to establish what promise this new form of public diplomacy may hold for the U.S. and other nations in establishing dialogue directly with citizens of foreign states.

CDDL held three events as part of its ongoing series, “Second and Third Generation Rights in Africa,” with events that focused on “Human Rights and Poverty in Africa,” in January; “Health Equity and AIDS Treatment in Africa,” in February; and “Legalizing Second and Third Generation Rights in Africa,” in March.

CDDRL has also posted videos from its winter 2011 Liberation Technology Seminar Series. Recent seminars include “The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy” on March 10th, “Why Technology Has No Revolutionized Politics, but How It Can Give a Little Help to Our Friends” on March 3rd, and “Blogs and Bullets: Social Media and the Struggle for Political Change” on February 24th. A complete archive of videos (and often presentations) from this series is available here.

Other recent events include: “Strings Attached: Untangling the Ethics of Incentives” featuring Ruth Grant; a March 31 event “Ten Years of Failed Transition to Democracy in Mexico: The Struggle between Modernity and Feudalism in Society” with Antonio Puron; “Reparations, Restitution and Transitional Justice,” featuring Larry May; “Learning to Love Democracy: Electoral Accountability, Government Performance and the Consolidation of Democracy,” with Milan Svolik; the February symposium, “Addressing the Accountability Gap in Statebuilding: The Case of Afghanistan;” “No Picnic: The Dynamics of Culture in the Contemporary Arab World,” featuring Hicham Ben Abdallah; and “The Crisis in Cote d’Ivoire,” with Daniel Chirot.

The International Forum for Democratic Studies (U.S.) published the April 2011 issue of the Journal of Democracy, which features a pair of articles on the Internet in China, Brazil after Lula, implications of Kenya’s new constitution, Jordan’s 2010 elections, gay rights in Latin America, and the 2010 Freedom House survey. Two articles, “Paradoxes of the New Authoritarianism” by Ivan Krastev and “Liberation Technology: Whither Internet Control?” by Evgeny Morozov, are available on the Journal’s website.

On April 14 and 15, 2011, the Managing Global Order project at the Brookings Institution and the International Forum cosponsored a conference on the “Foreign Policies of Emerging Market Democracies: Why Role for Human Rights and Democracy?” Leading experts on Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and multilateral affairs explored these countries’ strategies and tactics and made suggestions for U.S. policymakers. Audio of the conference, as well as transcripts, are available here.

The Forum produced two policy reports, the result of closed-door meetings held in partnership with Georgetown University’s Democracy and Governance program, featuring experts in democratization, governance, rule of law, constitutional reform, and civil society development from NED, its core institutes, universities, think tanks, and NGOs, as well as officials from the White House, USAID, and Department of State. Both meetings also included experts and activists from Tunisia and Egypt, respectively. “Tunisia: The Problems of Transition, the Challenge of Democratization,” sought to utilize the expertise of those gathered to identify potential obstacles to reform, as well as options available to Tunisians as they seek to construct a successful democratic transition. Similarly, the report which resulted from the Egypt meetings, “Egypt’s Transitional Process: A Briefing Note,” presents strategies for ensuring that that the forces which led the protests obtain the changes they sought and the democratic governance they fought for.

In March, the International Forum welcomed a new cohort of leading practitioners, journalists, and scholars to its Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program, which seeks to deepen the knowledge, enhance the skills, broaden the perspectives, and boost the morale of some of the world’s most creative and courageous democratic activists and scholars. Countries represented by this group include Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Ukraine, and Venezuela. A list of the 2010–2011 Fellows and their bios can be found here.

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows events included the presentations, “A Not-So Rosy Result: Georgia Seven Years after the Rose Revolution,” featuring Levan Berdzenishvili; “Violence Criminality, and the Erosion of the Democratic State in Latin America,” featuring Arturo Alvarado; and “Bringing Human Rights Home: The Application of the European Convention in Russian Courts,” featuring Anton Burkov. Other recent events at the Forum included “Latin America’s Changing Political Landscape,” a discussion based on articles from the January 2011 edition of the Journal of Democracy, and “The Chechen Struggle: Independence Won and Lost,” which presented the book of the same title, featuring discussions with the authors, Ilyas Akhmadov and Miriam Lanskoy, and remarks by Zbigniew Brzezinski