About Democracy Lab
Democracy Lab is Foreign Policy's home for coverage of transitions to democracy, published in partnership with the Legatum Institute. Democracy Lab also runs Transitions, a blog featuring on-the-ground coverage of transitioning countries.
Editor, Christian Caryl
Assistant Editor, Ilya Lozovsky
Learn more about Democracy Lab here.
In Hong Kong, a Once Liberal University Feels Beijing’s Weight
With protesters crushed and memorials removed, there’s no room for campus dissent.
How Portugal Quietly Became a Migration Hub
The country has a hot labor market and offers a path to EU citizenship for undocumented workers.
The Echoes of America’s Hypocrisy Abroad
Decades of Western support for dictators have caused a crisis of democracy.
Rethinking Maximum Pressure
Washington loosens its sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela ahead of a critical summit.
Biden Kicks Off Asia Tour
As the U.S. president heads east, North Korea may be plotting to conduct a nuclear or missile test.
For Opposition to Putin’s War, Look to the Fringes of His Empire
The dirty secret of the Russian military is that long-conquered subjects are the Kremlin’s cannon fodder.
Russia Is a Real Threat to NATO
Despite its failings, the Russian military is still a powerful force.
Putin’s Ukraine Gambit Was ‘Self-Defeating’
Two experts on energy and geopolitics talk about spiking prices, Russia’s war, and what that means for the climate fight.
Ukraine’s Other Front Line
Russia has flailed on the battlefield. But the damage inflicted on Ukraine’s economy could prove existential without Western support.
In the Americas, Homicide Is the Other Killer Epidemic
The good news: Lockdowns reduced crime almost everywhere else, and we know how to stop lethal violence.
Galleries
The Week in World Photos
Global protests against government-imposed lockdowns, gang violence in El Salvador, and hat tips to medical staff.
The Week in World Photos
A prayerful start to Ramadan, medical workers on the front lines of a pandemic, and the annual Lyrids meteor shower.
In the Magazine
In the Magazine
How to Save Global Capitalism From Itself
Decentralizing decision-making can help left-behind regions get back on track.
Britain’s Post-Brexit Identity Crisis
Boris Johnson has contradictory ideas for his country’s future—and no clear paths for getting there.
The Ugly End of Chimerica
The coronavirus pandemic has turned a conscious uncoupling into a messy breakup.
The 3 Most Polarizing Words in India
“Jai Shri Ram” was meant to be a celebration of a Hindu deity. But the phrase is turning into hate speech—and a dog whistle for attacks on Muslims.