The theory of inclusion/moderation posits that the more ideologically fanatical parties are included in the political process, the more realistic, pragmatic and respectful of democratic rules they become. But this has not been the case with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, writes …

“Some twenty-three years ago, Ambassador Max Kampelman (above) —former nuclear arms reduction negotiator with the Soviet Union and Counselor to the Department of State—decided that I needed a bit of diplomatic experience and invited me to be a public …

Russia should revise a law that is having “obstructive, intimidating and stigmatizing effects” on the country’s non-governmental organizations, three United Nations experts said today. The report coincides with growing concern that a former Kremlin ideologue’s resignation signals that the regime …

“We are starting a new phase,” Nobel peace laureate Tawakkol Karman recently told crowds at Sana’a’s Change Square, expressing a sentiment that’s come to be shared by leading analysts.

“Maybe the most unique post-revolutionary political process happening in any country …

“Syria’s main opposition bloc wants to consult its allies before deciding on joining a U.S.-Russia initiative to negotiate a peaceful transition, Associated Press reports:

The time, venue and agenda of the conference have not been set, reflecting disagreements between …

Last month’s deadly earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province may have generated political as well as geological seismic shocks that could ultimately present a “fundamental threat” to the ruling Communist party, analysts suggest.

“The rapid grass-roots response to the …

Tunisia’s Islamist-majority government has cracked down on the operations of Ansar al-sharia, the hardline Salafist group suspected of involvement in the attack on the US embassy in Tunis last year.

The initiative coincides with expressions of concern by international and …

Death threats from government security services have forced Iran’s most prominent labor union leader into exile.

Mansur Osanlu, the head of the Tehran bus workers’ union, told RFE/RL’s Golnaz Esfandiarithat the Islamic republic is becoming more repressive “day by …

“Wednesday’s dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov (above left), once a trusted aide, has underlined how isolated Putin is a year into his third term,” writes Reuters’ Timothy Heritage:

His replacement by a less sophisticated operator, …

“I’m a trouble maker. I’ve been one all my life,” Laura Alonso told Lillian Cunningham:

Alonso, an outspoken congresswoman in Argentina representing Buenos Aires, ….. took office in December 2009, after years of working as an activist for …

“Pakistan is about to cross an important threshold: this weekend’s elections, if all goes to plan, will mark the country’s first transition between elected governments. But this is not a moment for triumphalism,” writes a prominent analyst.

Opinion surveys …

“An adviser to Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei joined the presidential race on Friday, with powerful conservatives keen to make the June vote a peaceful contrast to the upheaval that followed the disputed 2009 poll,” Reuters reports…

“The use of chemical weapons in Syria has increased pressure on President Obama to arm the opposition,” says Zalmay Khalilzad (right), a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Earlier in the conflict, I endorsed such a …

Central and East European democrats with direct experience of democratic transitions are better qualified to offer advice on democratization, according to the head of the new European Endowment for Democracy. The EED is “inspired” by the example of the US-based …

The realm of U.S. government assistance for media development is in flux. Based on funding statistics, U.S. government support for international media development is in decline. But does this mesh with realities on the ground?

The process and variety of …