Syria’s ruling cabinet resigned today as President Bashar al-Assad’s government tries to placate anti-regime protests that have raged since March 18. But the move should be read as a sign of authoritarian adaptation rather than a concession to the protest …

The breathtaking courage of female journalists is making sure that women’s voices count, even in some of the world’s most repressive and violent environments, writes Melanne Verveer, the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

She has in mind women …

It is time to plan Libya’s democratic transition process, Western leaders said today, as the country’s opposition confirmed that it will hold free and fair elections and draft a new national constitution upon unseating Col. Muammar Gadhafi.

Opposition groups also …

Chinese security services have arrested one of the country’s “most important public intellectuals,” a leading human rights watchdog reports, in the latest phase of a growing crackdown on pro-democracy bloggers, lawyers and other leading dissidents.

Ran Yunfei, an early …

Syrian security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the southern city of Daraa today, as several thousand protesters assembled, chanting “We want dignity and freedom” and “No to emergency laws.”

Scores of people have been killed over several days as …

Democrats – with both a large and small ‘d’ – are lamenting the death of Geraldine Ferraro (left), the former U.S. vice-presidential candidate and three-term Congresswoman.

“Gerry Ferraro was one of a kind — tough, brilliant, and never afraid to speak her …

As the current Arab awakening continues, how can the region’s democrats ensure that the current momentous events don’t simply lead to secular authoritarian rule giving way to a theocratic version? Or is it simply anachronistic to raise the prospect?

Last …

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the southern Syrian city of Daraa today, defying a violent government crackdown which has killed between 80 and 100 people.

Large crowds assembled for funeral marches for of a deadly assault …

Latin America’s democratic transitions out of the 1980s’ lost decade of military dictatorships offers instruction for post-authoritarian states in the Middle East, writes Luis Alberto Moreno.

It was a process that created the most successful politician of our time, …

The crisis in Yemen is presenting the Obama administration with a strategic dilemma.

The U.S. has been notably reserved in its support for the protesters demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh (left) who has been a steadfast ally …