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.
Why Liberal Internationalism Is Still Indispensable—and Fixable
G. John Ikenberry’s new book traces what went wrong. And Biden is listening.
Our Top Weekend Reads
EU member states find commonality in crisis, Afghans accuse donor countries of hypocrisy on corruption, and how Biden’s climate plans could shape energy markets.
Pakistan Has Its Problems, but It Won’t Perish
A new book offers riveting and memorable reporting, though it falls back on outdated narratives of a country that has moved on.
Venezuelans Prepare to Vote as Maduro Looks to Consolidate Power
Voters go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new National Assembly, while the country’s dwindling opposition has called for a boycott.
Europe Needed Borders. Coronavirus Built Them.
The pandemic has the continent increasingly discussing its common boundaries—and common identity.
Congress Isn’t Leading on Human Rights in China
The Biden team needs to step up and push new initiatives
Pandemic Crisis Drives Cubans to Rare, Risky Protest
Economic devastation and tightened censorship have made for a bleak 2020.
How to Judge Facebook’s New Judges
The social media company’s search for consistent rules has been long, winding, and entirely self-defeating.
The United States Can Negotiate With a China Driven More by Power Than Ideology
It may be possible to find a framework for stable coexistence.
Meeks Makes History as First Black Lawmaker to Chair House Foreign Affairs Committee
The New York congressman fended off a progressive challenge in an unusually public race.
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.