Democracy & Society Online
A Publication of the Center for Democracy and Civil Society at Georgetown University
Tunisia’s Democracy Enters an “Insha’Allah” Phase
Hamza Khan There is a running joke in the Arab world: when a person assures someone that a task will be done, ending their sentences with “be it God’s will” (“insha’Allah”), one can be sure that nothing will be accomplished in the near future. Over the course of the past eight years, Tunisians have sought […]
MoreA Pyrrhic Victory? Addressing Expectations and Reality in the Wake of Tunisia’s Elections
Drew Holland Kinney Tunisia’s anti-establishment president Kais Saied’s victory was a major signal that democracy is alive and well in the small North African country. Shocking the establishment, however, was not the only aspiration of the youth who catapulted the constitutional scholar into office. The populist outsider, who was sworn in on October 23, […]
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Neoliberalism is Destroying the Third Wave of Democracy
Harris A. Samad We hear about financial bailouts in developing countries from the IMF on a regular basis; Argentina, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and countless others. Such countries often spent decades or centuries under brutal, exploitative colonial rule from Europe. Despite this, many post-colonial countries have made astonishing strides in democratic development since they gained “independence” […]
MoreA Renewed Commitment to Democracy Promotion is Needed
Riaz Akbar The global yearning for peace and progress in the aftermath of the destructive World War I afforded an opportunity for democracy to spread and flourish. Woodrow Wilson, the powerful patron of liberalism, threw his weight behind this cause and quickly declared that lasting peace could only be established by supporting freedom and promoting […]
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The Silver Lining on Brexit: It’s the Institutions, Stupid.
Jennifer Raymond Dresden, Ph.D. The hand-wringing over Brexit continues apace. With reports of preparatory stockpiling, previously-secure immigrants scrambling for new residency status, and a British public that remains (no pun intended) deeply divided on the best course forward, there seems very little good news coming from our friends across the pond these days. On top […]
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