Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, December 10, 2012

Michael Cecire defends the new Georgian government of Prime Minster Bidzina Ivanishvili against allegations of undemocratic behavior.

Sarah Kendzior argues that using the term "civil society" can obscure the reality in authoritarian countries.

Peter Passell explains how Western governments can boost developing countries by making it easier for migrants to send money home.

In this week’s column, Christian Caryl ponders Russian and Chinese attempts to regulate the global Internet.

Magda Kandil reports on how Mubarak’s legacy continues to weigh down the Egyptian economy.

When it comes to corruption, Besar Likmeta writes, not all Balkan countries are the same.

Jackee Budesta Batanda reports on the latest triumph for Uganda’s upstart tech entrepreneurs.

And now for this week’s recommended reads:

As the crisis in Egypt continues, the Council on Foreign Relations offers an updated version of its useful primer on the Muslim Brotherhood. CFR’s Reza Aslan reflects on the role of political Islam in the Arab Spring.

The BBC reports that the situation for women is worsening in Libya as female ex-rebels are targeted by Islamists. In a commentary for Now Lebanon, Rafif Jouejati urges Syrians to uphold women’s rights in their quest for revolution.

Time’s Rania Abouzeid tells the story of a Syrian sniper who defected from the military to join the revolution.

Jeremiah Magpile, writing for CogitAsia at CSIS, takes a look at how Indonesia’s Bali Democracy Forum is struggling to maintain its legitimacy.

The Carnegie Endowment’s Thomas de Waal and Anna Dolidze explain why a Truth Commission can help to put Georgia on the right path to a democratic future.

In a piece for Project Syndicate, Harold James reports on a recent New York court ruling against Argentina that has dramatically increased the stakes of sovereign default and bankruptcy.

Writing in The Egyptian Independent, Nancy Messieh explains why Egyptian Christians should not be referred to as Copts.

And National Geographic’s Peter Gwin presents a vivid portrait of life in Timbuktu, where Islamists now hold the reins.