Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, February 9, 2015

To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Mohamed Eljarh explains why Libya’s reversal of a law that purged Qadaffi-era officials from politics may be a step forward.

James Kirchik argues that German Chancellor Angela Merkel must do more to help Ukraine — including supplying it with arms.

Christian Caryl calls for the United States to arm the Kurds as way of taking the fight to the Islamic State.

Jack Watling reports on a remarkable Rwandan organization that’s teaching the country’s first post-genocide generation how to argue about politics.

Josh Cohen reminds us that Ukraine needs financial victories, not just military ones, to ensure its survival.

Tabish Forugh urges reforms to Afghanistan’s electoral system before it’s too late.

Robert Looney warns that Uganda’s risky bet on oil income may not come off.

And now for this week’s recommended reads:

The BBC reports that Nigeria’s election has been postponed on security grounds. An IFES pre-election survey finds most Nigerians eager to vote, but worried about violence. (DemLab previously ran Princeton Lyman’s argument in favor of a delay).

In the Washington Post, Anne Applebaum calls for the Ukraine debate to move beyond tactics to long-term strategy: How can the West secure the country’s democratic future? Meanwhile, FP‘s Stephen Walt argues against supplying weapons to the Ukrainian government.

The Syria Justice and Accountability Center dismisses claims by President Bashar Al-Assad, made in a recent Foreign Affairs interview, that he holds his officials accountable for human rights violations.

In an interview with Rachel Wagley of the National Bureau of Asian Research, Gum San NSang explains that the Burmese military must reform if it is to be a credible partner in peace talks with armed ethnic groups. Maiko Ichihara of the Carnegie Endowment criticizes Japan’s waning support for Burmese democracy.

In the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog, Mokhtar Awar and Nathan Brown warn of growing extremism in Egypt’s escalating war of words between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Sisi regime.

The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy announces its new Legislation Tracker, a constantly updated interactive timeline of laws and decrees issued by Egypt’s president under sole presidential authority.

Finally, check out this trailer for Tickling Giants, an upcoming documentary about Bassem Youssef, Egypt’s answer to Jon Stewart. There is also an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the film.

MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images