Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, May 19, 2014

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Spencer Oliver explains how the existence of the OSCE, Europe’s security watchdog, is threatened by the crisis in Ukraine.

Prachi Vidwans argues that the Boko Haram abductions in Nigeria are merely a more radical form of the coercion regularly imposed on young women in many parts of the world.

Mohamed Eljarh reports on a coup attempt in Tripoli that led to deadly clashes among armed militias.

Sir Geoffrey Nice and Francis Wade implore the international community to intervene before Burma erupts into full-blown genocide. Su Mon Thazin Aung analyzes the campaign tactics behind the efforts by Burma’s top military leader to resolve the country’s long-running civil war.

Jeffrey Tayler reviews Oliver Stone’s new film about Venezuela — and finds it wanting. Juan Nagel surveys the complete lack of effective leadership in Venezuela on both sides of the political divide.

Mira Galanova reports on the heated land conflict in Chile, where "democracy" has left the country’s indigenous people out in the cold.

And now for this week’s recommended reads:

Slate columnist Anne Applebaum explains why democracy isn’t only an option for the wealthy countries of the developed West.

International Crisis Group advises Kiev’s interim government to build bridges to citizens in southeast Ukraine ahead of the May 25 elections.

A report from the U.K.’s Overseas Development Institute explores "political voice" and its crucial role in international development.

Writing for the Atlantic, Shadi Hamid digs into the phenomenon of illiberal democracy under Islamist rule. (In the photo above, Egyptian expatriates in Kuwait support presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the upcoming election.)

Maung Zarni, a self-described "former racist," analyzes government-sanctioned anti-Rohingya sentiment in Burma. Writing for the Diplomat, Knox Thames maps out ways for the United States to pressure Burma to improve religious freedom.

On Al-Monitor, Eman al-Nafjan explains why Saudi activists have started keeping their opinion to themselves.

Writing for the Washington Post, Walter Pincus tracks the correlation between extremism and corruption.

Iona Craig, one of the few foreign journalists in Yemen, explains her decision to leave.

In the New York Times, Anita Isaacs warns that Guatemala must address past violence or risk slipping back into authoritarianism.