Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, November 4, 2013

To catch Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter at @Democracy_Lab.

Anna Nemtsova reports from the town of Baikalsk, where the shutdown of one of Russia’s dirtiest factories threatens the community’s livelihood. Photographer Brendan Hoffman captures Baikalsk in pictures.

Juan Nagel marvels at Venezuela’s new, Orwellian Ministry of Happiness.

Christopher Walker and Alexander Cooley expose Azerbaijan’s zombie election monitors.

Asma Ghribi explains why Tunisia’s first suicide bombing sends an ominous signal amid rising political violence.

Nathan Gamester and Stephen Clarke share intriguing findings from the Legatum Institute’s 2013 Prosperity Index.

Christian Caryl looks back on the life of Tadeusz Mazoweicki, Poland’s modest revolutionary, and explains what today’s activists can learn from him.

Luka Oreskovic argues that Bosnia’s politicians should seize the chance to embrace a broader notion of citizenship.

Mohamed Eljarh reports on Benghazi’s assassination epidemic.

And now for this week’s recommended reads:

Writing for the Atlantic, transitions scholar Larry Diamond asks whether the world’s dictatorships are suffering from the "70-Year Itch."

The Center for International and Strategic Studies issues a new report urging increased U.S. assistance for the Burmese health care sector.

Writing in the Washington Post, Michael Abramowitz and Holly Atkinson demand protection for Burma’s beleaguered Muslim minority.

The Community of Democracies publishes A Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development Support.

Today’s Zaiman writer Ali Aslan Kilic reports on the female lawmakers who are challenging Turkey’s secular establishment by wearing headscarves to parliament. (In the photo above, thousands of Turkish Alevis rally to demand equal citizenship.)

Michael L. Ross finds that countries rich with petroleum tend to have violent conflicts and durable autocracies.

On the Arabist, Fahmy Howeidy argues that the current alliance between Egyptian liberals and the military will not stand the test of time.

In the Financial Times, Jonathan Ledgard and John Clippinger make the case for a universal digital currency in Africa.

In the National Interest, Vivek S. Sharma argues for a new view of corruption in developing countries.