Democracy Digest

Egypt’s NGO draft law ‘strikes fear’ into civil society, as cash-strapped Brotherhood ‘woos former regime tycoons’

Demdigest — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:18:22 +0000

Egypt’s ruling Muslim Brotherhood is trying to stifle civil society while pursuing reconciliation with bastions of the previous authoritarian regime.

“Almost three years after an uprising fuelled by the old regime’s venality, Egypt’s cash-strapped Islamist government is making amends with …

Supporting democratic transitions key to US counter-terror strategy, Obama says

Demdigest — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:48:10 +0000

Supporting democratic transitions in volatile regions like the Middle East will remain a key element of U. S. counter-terrorism strategy, President Barack Obama said today.

The peaceful realization of individual aspirations for freedom and dignity in countries like Libya, …

Iran’s Presidential Election and U.S. Policy

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:14:56 +0000

On June 14, the Iranian people will participate in an election to elect the Islamic Republic’s next President. While most observers do not expect the election to be free and fair, Iran’s political scene remains lively and competitive, within rigid …

Is Assad winning? Syrian opposition ‘scrambles to save credibility’ prior to peace talks

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:35:09 +0000

A Syrian opposition leader today urged President Bashar al-Assad to cede power and go into exile, without immunity from prosecution. But the divided opposition is itself under international pressure to resolve internal differences and decide whether to participate in Geneva-based …

Still a Long Way to Go for Tunisian Democracy

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:07:48 +0000

In confronting Tunisia’s radical Islamists, the Nahda-led government is being forced to address a problem of its own making, says a leading analyst. Since they took over the reins of government early last year, Nahda leaders have focused on …

Burma: ‘democracy on prescription’?

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:54:25 +0000

Burma’s transition process has been “a top-down affair,” The Economist notes.

“This, more than anything, distinguishes it from other recent upheavals such as the ‘people power’ revolutions of the Arab spring, the fall of communism in Europe and the …

Can Egypt’s Civil Opposition Save Democratic Transition?

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:49:11 +0000

The Arab spring came as a golden moment for Islamists to establish political influence in the post-revolutionary political orders of Egypt and Tunisia. Two years later, however, the impact of non-Islamist currents on the political scene of both countries …

Tunisia’s ‘Theocratic Temptation’: Is Nahda-led government ‘waging mock battle’ against Salafists?

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:18:46 +0000

Tunisia is making progress in its efforts to dismantle “terrorist” cells, Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said today. But he declined to apply the “terrorist” label to the radical Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia (right) that has been linked with Al-Qaeda and …

Reshaping Yemen’s social contract: women make their voices heard, but dialogue ‘faces Catch-22’

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:16:35 +0000

Yemen’s transitional process is unique, not only because it is the “only negotiated, transparent and participatory political transition in the Arab world,” according to Amat Al-Alim Alsoswa, a member of the National Dialogue Conference. But also because of the …

Rafsanjani attacks Iran’s ‘igorant’ rulers: ‘absolutely terrified’ regime ‘turning against itself’

Demdigest — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:07:10 +0000

“Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran’s leadership of incompetence and ignorance just days after he was barred from standing in an election next month,” Reuters reports:

“I don’t think the country could have been run worse, even …