Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, June 1, 2015
To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Christian Caryl tells the story of a remarkable trio of Costa Rican reporters who used data journalism to bring down a vast network of corruption. The story is the first in a new series of Democracy Lab case studies, “Curbing Corruption: Ideas ...
To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Christian Caryl tells the story of a remarkable trio of Costa Rican reporters who used data journalism to bring down a vast network of corruption. The story is the first in a new series of Democracy Lab case studies, “Curbing Corruption: Ideas That Work,” that will run throughout the year.
Joseph Allchin reports on a series of political murders in Bangladesh that reveal a systemic crisis in the country’s democratic institutions.
Min Zin analyzes current efforts to end the long-running the civil war in Burma, sounding a cautionary note about obstacles that still lie on the path to peace.
Also in Burma, Wai Moe explains why the government continues to deny any responsibility for the wave of migrants fleeing its shores.
And now for this week’s recommended reads:
In Time, Madeleine Albright and Ambassador Johnnie Carson urge the international community to press for continued institutional reforms in Nigeria in the wake of that country’s largely successful recent election. (The photo above shows Nigerian soldiers marching during the inauguration of newly elected President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja on May 29.)
Writing for Al Jazeera, Robert Kennedy underscores the transformative potential of better internet access in Cuba, while noting its extremely limited reach thus far.
A new Brookings analysis by Chantal Berman and Elizabeth Nugent examines the priorities and political allegiances of Tunisian voters during the 2014 parliamentary elections.
In the New York Times, Sergei Guriyev and Daniel Treisman show how modern dictators rule — not through violence, but with softer, more sophisticated techniques.
Reuters reports on a cohort of women preachers in Morocco who are part of a daring experiment to counter extremism and strengthen women’s positions in society.
Also in Reuters, Stella Dawson discusses the strong new evidence that rising corruption causes civil unrest.
In World Affairs, Christopher Wаlker warns that the world’s authoritarian regimes are pursuing a policy for “containing” democracy.
George Joffé, writing for Middle East Monitor, looks back at the toxic social forces that helped to undermine the Arab Spring.
And finally, a new book by Sarah Sunn Bush argues that democracy promotion programs have become increasingly shy about confronting dictators directly.
PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images
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