By Michael Allen on March 3, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010 – 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM – The Iraqi Elections & the Changing Politico-Security Environment in Iraq – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. – Featuring keynote speaker Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, this one day conference presents a number of panels and experts discussing key issues of security and [read full story]
Posted in Africa, Analysis, Asia, Backlash, Blogs, China, Democracy assistance, Egypt, Elections, Fragile States, Iran, Iraq, Islam and democracy, Islam/politics, Journal of Democracy, Middle East and North Africa, NGOs/Civil society, National Democratic Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, Publications, Religion and Democracy, Russia, Soft power, Tools/technology, Women, accountability, authoritarianism, autocrats, backsliding, color revolutions, corruption, democracy, democracy and development, democracy promotion, democracy support, democratic reform, democratization, dictatorships, dissidents, economic crisis, emerging democracies, foreign policy, governance, media, promoting democracy, protests, religious freedom, rule of law, smart power, solidarity, state-building | Tagged Broadcasting in UN Blue: The Unexamined Past and Uncertain Future of Peacekeeping Radio, Center for International Media Assistance, Dalia Ziada, democracy in Mexico, Democratization in Africa, freedom of the internet for democracy, Human rights, Human Rights in the North Caucasus, Iraqi Elections, Islam and Religious Freedom, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mark Lagon, Mexican Media Under Attack, Mobilizing for Women's Rights and Eliminating Violence against Women, National Endowment for Democracy, Restoring America’s Reputation, Second Geneva Summit for Human Rights, velayat-e-faqih, Women in a Changing China, Women's Learning Partnership, Yemen, Zalmay Khalilzad |
By Michael Allen on March 2, 2010
Will Mohamed ElBaradei galvanize or divide Egypt’s domestic opposition?
The former International Atomic Energy Agency chief and Nobel laureate received a hero’s welcome when he arrived at Cairo airport last week from activists eager to end President Hosni Mubarak’s 29-year rule and prevent the dynastic succession of his son, Gamal.
But his candidacy for the September 2011 [read full story]
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Middle East and North Africa, autocrats, dissidents, protests |
By Michael Allen on March 1, 2010
The ruling Communist Party’s insistence on “rigid stability” and monopolizing political power is likely to generate “revolutionary turmoil”, warns China’s leading expert on social unrest. But some democracy and labor activists are pursuing a gradualist strategy, even working in partnership with state actors, where necessary.
Securing its power through coercion and ideology at the expense of [read full story]
Posted in Labour/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy, communist regimes, democracy promotion, democratization, dissidents, promoting democracy, protests | Tagged China Labor Bulletin, Chinese Solidarnosc, collective bargaining, Han Dongfang, independent trade unions, labor movement, revolutionary turmoil, rigid stability, Yu Jianrong |
By Web on February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27 – “Voices from Afghanistan” Exhibit – Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE – On February 24, a new exhibit at the Library of Congress will display some of the thousands of hand-painted scrolls and letters received by Radio Azadi, RFE/RL’s popular Afghan radio station. [read full story]
Posted in Afghanistan, Democracy assistance, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Elections, Failed states, Fragile States, Haiti, Human rights, Iraq, Islam and democracy, Islam/politics, Kenya, Labour/labor unions, Middle East and North Africa, NGOs/Civil society, National Endowment for Democracy, Regions, Transparency, Women, authoritarianism, corruption, democracy, democracy and development, democracy promotion, democracy support, democratic reform, democratization, dissidents, engagement, foreign policy, freedom of expression, governance, media, promoting democracy, protests, rule of law, solidarity | Tagged and Google, Broadcasting in UN Blue, Center for International Media Assistance, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, china, counter-extremism, Democracy & Democracy Promotion, Democracy Promotion in the Muslim World, democratic governance, Geneva Summit for Human Rights, International Labour Organization, Iraqi Elections, Islam and Religious Freedom, Lech Walesa, National Endowment for Democracy, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, Rethinking Human Development, Role of the U.S. in Encouraging Pro-Democracy Movements, Tariq Ramadan, the Internet, Vaclav Havel, Violence against Women, Voices from Afghanistan, Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa |
By Michael Allen on February 17, 2010
Thursday, February 18 – Iraq’s Elections—and Iraq’s Future. 12:15-1:45, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW –The Iraqi parliamentary elections on March 7 will be a critical test for the young democracy. Ad Melkert, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, will assess the latest situation on the ground in the run-up [read full story]
Posted in Backlash, Democracy assistance, Haiti, Human rights, Iraq, Islam and democracy, Islam/politics, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, National Endowment for Democracy, Publications, Solidarity Center, authoritarianism, communist regimes, corruption, democracy, democracy and development, democracy promotion, democracy support, democratization, foreign policy, freedom of expression, governance, media, promoting democracy, protests, rule of law | Tagged Center for International Media Assistance, Corruption and Abuse of Power in Kenya, Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Haiti, Internet freedom, Iraq’s Elections, Islam and Religious Freedom, Labor Protest Politics and Worker Rights in Egypt:, Labor Rights, Lech Walesa, Migai Akech, National Endowment for Democracy, Reagan-Fascell, Solidarity Center, Struggle for Worker Rights, Vaclav Havel, Violence against Women, Women's Learning Partnership |
By Michael Allen on February 16, 2010
The U.S. should use this week’s meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Barack Obama to reassert its leadership of the free world and its commitment to promoting democracy and human rights, a Washington briefing heard today.
Democracy advocates hope that the administration uses the occasion to embrace the Tibetan cause and articulate shared values and [read full story]
Posted in Asia, China, Democracy assistance, Featured, Human rights, National Endowment for Democracy, Tibet, authoritarianism, communist regimes, democracy promotion, democracy support, dissidents, foreign policy, promoting democracy, protests |
By Michael Allen on February 12, 2010
The Islamic Republic’s repressive capacity, aided by the Green movement’s tactical inflexibility, weak leadership and strategic myopia, mean that the balance of advantage has shifted to the regime in the aftermath of this week’s events.
But growing tensions between Iran’s clerical establishment and the Revolutionary Guards, exacerbated by the unresolved challenge of the Green opposition, are [read full story]
Posted in Democracy assistance, Featured, Human rights, Iran, Islam/politics, Middle East and North Africa, NGOs/Civil society, National Endowment for Democracy, democracy, democracy support, dissidents, foreign policy, protests | Tagged ayatollahs, Geneive Abdo, Green movement, Iran's Green movement, Iranian civil society, Jamsheed Choksy, Mardo Soghom, Ramin Jahanbegloo, regime change, Revolutionary Guards |
By Michael Allen on February 12, 2010
Democracy assistance practitioners tend to be wary of regime change.
Recent experience, not least during the Third Wave of democratic transitions, suggests that sustainable democratization is more of a process than an event and the disappointing trajectory of some color revolutions has further fed skepticism of such dramatic ruptures.
So it’s understandable that some observers have [read full story]
Posted in Analysis, Backlash, Human rights, Iran, Islam/politics, Middle East and North Africa, color revolutions, dissidents, protests |
By Michael Allen on February 11, 2010
The significance of today’s largely abortive demonstrations for the Iran’s Green movement is exercising analysts and activists. The Islamic Republic’s security apparatus managed to stifle the opposition’s attempt to hijack the 31st anniversary celebrations of the Islamic revolution.
“It’s pretty clear that Greens everywhere will feel demoralized… The overall feeling is one of disappointment,” a well-placed [read full story]
Posted in Featured, Iran, Islam and democracy, Islam/politics, Labour/labor unions, Middle East and North Africa, autocrats, democracy, democratization, dictatorships, dissidents, protests | Tagged 22 Bahman, Abbas Milani, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Basij, democracy movement, democratic change, democratic revolution, Fatimeh Haghighatjoo, Green movement, Green opposition, Iran Democracy Project, Islamic Republic, labor, radicalism of totalitarians, radicalization, Rasool Nafisi, Reuel Marc Gerecht, Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Revolutionary Guards, strikes, Velayat Faqih |
By Michael Allen on February 11, 2010
Iran’s regime largely succeeded in stifling the Green opposition’s attempt to hijack the 31st anniversary celebrations of the Islamic revolution. The government bussed in thousands of subsidized supporters for the official rally, many of whom were given free food (as this footage shows).
Analysts attribute the low turnout to the recent hangings of opposition activists, threats [read full story]
Posted in Featured, Iran, Islam/politics, authoritarianism, protests |
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