Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, September 21, 2015

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Christian Caryl remembers a Europe that tore down its walls — and laments that it is now putting them back up.

Ilya Lozovsky profiles a new Ukrainian political movement that’s leading the struggle for clean government.

Frank Brown takes stock of Ukraine’s desperate effort to make headway in its battle against corruption.

Farah Samti reports on a new Tunisia anti-corruption law that is exacerbating existing rifts.

Jonathan Pinckney explains why the plotters of last week’s coup in Burkina Faso are unlikely to remain in power for long.

And now for this week’s recommended reads:

The Washington Post presents 30 stories by journalists from around the world (including DemLab contributor Maikel Nabil Sanad) who have been persecuted for their work.

Reuters reports on the largest pro-democracy protest in Thailand since the military government took power in May 2014. The editorial board of the Washington Post doubts the sincerity of the Thai military junta’s claims that it’s leading the country back to democracy. Thailand’s ambassador to the United States responds here.

Al Jazeera’s “Inside Story” takes a detailed look at Nepal’s new constitution and whether it can finally bring a measure of stability to the country. (In the photo above, thousands of Nepalis attend a ceremony celebrating ratification of the constitution.)

The Irrawaddy’s San Yamin Aung explains why Burma’s political parties are trying to include young people in candidate lists for the approaching general election.

Ali Aslan Kilic of Today’s Zaman bemoans the lack of democracy within Turkey’s ruling party.

OpenDemocracy’s George Joffé offers an overview of political developments across the Middle East and North Africa.

The Center for Global Development’s Justin Sandefur, Nancy Birdsall, and Mujobu Moyo report on the political paradox of cash transfers (part II in a series on governance issues in Tanzania).

And finally, head over to iTunes or Stitcher and check out FP’s latest podcasts. Last week, The Editors’ Roundtable (The E.R.) dived into American exceptionalism, and Global Thinkers featured Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai. More coming this week. Listen and subscribe here.

Photo credit: PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images