"The regime will seek to exploit divisions within the United States itself. Differences within U.S. policy debates over the relative priority of stability, energy security, migration, and democratization create openings that the regime can use to delay or dilute pressure."

We have long assumed democracy and liberalism went hand in hand. But in truth there have always been tensions between them, and the rise of illiberal democracy cannot be ignored.

Iran’s hardline government responded to nationwide protests with horrific violence, killing thousands of Iranians in a matter of days. There is nothing the regime can offer its people to regain their support.

Liberal democracy has drawn its share of false indictments. But like any form of government, it has genuine weaknesses that can at best be managed. How well liberals navigate these inherent tensions may help determine the future of freedom.

"How did Hungary go from being a regional democratic leader in the 1990s to running an election in which all the main opposition parties united against an autocrat and still could not win?"

While analysts of populism have focused on economic woes and “cultural backlash,” a thirst for the restoration of order may better explain the appeal of authoritarian populists in fragile democracies where governance is falling short.

"Benin’s failed coup shows that coastal states long viewed as more resilient are now entering the same danger zone."

My latest, in @jodemocracy.bsky.social, w/ the great Calin Trenkov-Wermuth. We argue that U.S. counterterrorism strategy in West Africa is increasing coup risk and highlight a governance-first approach instead | African Coups and the Elite-Forces Trap www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...

U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing coup risk—here’s how Washington can both better fight terrorism and prevent coups.

Last December, a group of elite special-forces members attempted to overthrow Benin’s elected government. This was just the latest in a spate of African coup attempts, both successful and unsuccessful, in the last half-decade.

"For much of the past decade, Benin stood out as one of the few remaining democratic anchors in West Africa...That all changed on 7 December 2025, when elements of Benin’s special forces launched a violent but ultimately failed coup attempt in Cotonou, the capital city."

With illiberal forces ascendant across the globe, protecting individual liberties and the democratic process is crucial. But when institutions empower minority groups over the majority, can democracy survive?

U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing coup risk—here’s how Washington can both better fight terrorism and prevent coups.

People are losing faith in democracy’s ability to deliver social progress. But are democracies better than autocracies at promoting economic growth, alleviating poverty, and creating healthier, more educated, and more peaceful societies? On all counts, the answer is yes.

The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.

Iran’s theocracy has waged a brutal campaign against its own citizens for years. Now that the Woman, Life, Freedom movement has stripped the regime of any legitimacy, the mullahs have had no response but to sharpen their instruments of repression.

Iran’s hardline government responded to nationwide protests with horrific violence, killing thousands of Iranians in a matter of days. There is nothing the regime can offer its people to regain their support.

Authoritarian regimes are targeting exiles and diaspora communities in more places than ever before. Activists, journalists, and regular people living abroad must watch their backs, because these governments now have the power to suppress dissent even outside their borders.

Whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro leads to democracy depends on Donald Trump — and María Corina Machado’s ability to make a democratic future the only attractive choice.

Since U.S. forces removed Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the country’s future has been in question. Will the longtime Chavista regime remain in charge, or will Venezuela democratize?

Delcy Rodríguez and her cronies aren’t going to surrender easily. They plan to adapt and undermine any attempt to restore Venezuela’s democracy. This is their strategy.

"In Iran, especially after the massacres, there is no one within the regime whom protesters would trust to rule. Resistance would continue whether a reformist or a hardliner were installed in Khamanei’s place."

"What are the drivers of Gen-Z protests, and how do these movements compare to past protest campaigns? Will young activists defy the authoritarian current and bring forth a renewed wave of democratic change, or will they be stymied?"

"As traditional coups have become rarer, incumbent-led subversion is now the most common form of autocratization worldwide. Reflecting this shift, democratically elected leaders have attempted more self-coups than ever before..."

"Recent electoral shocks across the world can be traced back to AI-driven interference: In Slovakia’s 2023 parliamentary elections, a fabricated audio recording of a liberal candidate discussing vote-rigging circulated...potentially swaying a razor-thin contest."

"The regime is betting that every additional month without a decisive democratic breakthrough will allow it to reorganize, regain leverage, and test the limits of external pressure." Here's how Maduro's dictatorship plans to survive.

"A large share of Iranians today personally knew someone murdered by authorities this month. Thus even people who did not themselves participate in the demonstrations now have a personal grievance with the regime."

"I engaged with both Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez over several years in my capacity as a member of the democratic opposition...Tactical flexibility is repeatedly deployed in the service of a strategic goal: permanence in power and regime survival."

A revolution in political participation is underway: Political players and advocacy groups are using AI to draft ballot initiatives, gather signatures, and persuade voters—undermining democratic legitimacy in the process. This essay will remain free forever on our website!

Young people from Peru to Madagascar to Nepal—furious with political elites reaping the spoils of privilege and corruption—are rising up to demand change. But what happens when their movements succeed? This essay will remain free forever on our website!

Brazil did something that few democracies achieve: It convicted a former president of attempting a coup. How did the country’s courts hold would-be autocrat Jair Bolsonaro accountable when so many other coup plotters go unpunished? This essay will remain free on our website!

Iran’s hardline government responded to nationwide protests with horrific violence, killing thousands of Iranians in a matter of days. There is nothing the regime can offer its people to regain their support.

Whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro leads to democracy depends on Donald Trump — and María Corina Machado’s ability to make a democratic future the only attractive choice.

"Through intense repression, the Islamic Republic has managed to survive another day, but at a significant cost. The massacres have deepened antiregime sentiment across society in powerful ways, even if the long-term political consequences remain uncertain."

Delcy Rodríguez and her cronies aren’t going to surrender easily. They plan to adapt and undermine any attempt to restore Venezuela’s democracy. This is their strategy.

While attending to the risk of majoritarian abuse, we must also guard against institutions that empower—and even entrench—authoritarian minorities. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Authoritarians often abuse electoral systems and institutional power to thwart majority will. But the basic principles of democracy—political participation, fundamental rights, and the rule of law—can take shape in more than one way. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Whether preying on people’s anxieties or playing the part of the progressive liberal, autocrats and would-be authoritarians see “gender” as a tool that can be adapted to whatever use best serves their interests. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Ecuador was already besieged by crime and violence. Now it faces a populist president whose “strong hand” policies show little success. They may do even more damage to the country’s democracy. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan are embattled democracies shaped by historic traumas and facing dire threats from powers that deny their right to exist. Can democracy endure in such conditions? Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Two decades ago, there was a wave of optimism about the rise of “Muslim democracy,” but these hopes have not been realized. What are the real barriers to progress? Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

As Tanzania’s October 2025 sham election got underway, protests broke out across the country, sparking a brutal regime crackdown. That brief reign of terror marks a turning point for both the ruling party and the Tanzanian people. There is no going back. Read free today! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

The reelection of Uganda’s octogenarian president Yoweri Museveni may be a foregone conclusion, but the country is wracked with unease. His highly personalized regime is passing, and there is no clear view of what will follow. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP have developed the textbook attack on India’s universities and centers of free thought. It offers a vital warning for other countries where higher education is in danger. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Ukraine must win its war against Russian aggression. But it is also true that the decisions it makes now will determine what kind of state it will be when the war is over. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Moldova is poor, strategically located, and under intense pressure from Russia. But one of Europe’s smallest players has come up with a surprisingly effective recipe for holding Russian dominance at bay. Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Elected leaders across the globe are intentionally undermining their governments’ ability to govern. How and why do these leaders seek to dismantle the states they lead? Last chance! Read today to read free! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

A revolution in political participation is underway: Political players and advocacy groups are using AI to draft ballot initiatives, gather signatures, and persuade voters—undermining democratic legitimacy in the process. Read FREE today or tomorrow! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Brazil did something that few democracies achieve: It convicted a former president of attempting a coup. How did the country’s courts hold would-be autocrat Jair Bolsonaro accountable when so many other coup plotters go unpunished? Read free today or tomorrow! muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

Young people from Peru to Madagascar to Nepal—furious with political elites reaping the spoils of privilege and corruption—are rising up to demand change. But what happens when their movements succeed? Read "Why Gen-Z is Rising" by Erica Chenoweth and Matthew Cebul free: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...