Democratic Transitions Archives

Content

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Introduction: The continuing debate about freedom and prosperity

By Dan Negrea, Brad Lips, Kris Mauren

Freedom and prosperity are strongly correlated, and freedom is necessary for sustained economic growth. Some authoritarian regimes have enjoyed some economic success, but the Chinese development model does not provide a sustainable path to prosperity and comes at the expense of human rights and individual freedoms.

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Sep 6, 2023

Belarus dictator weaponizes passports in new attack on exiled opposition

By Hanna Liubakova

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has banned the country's embassies from issuing or renewing passports in a move that critics see as his latest escalation against Belarus's exiled pro-democracy opposition, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Civil Society

New Atlanticist

Sep 1, 2023

Fifty years later, the Helsinki process stands as a turning point for human rights in Europe

By Daniel Fried

A half century after landmark meetings in Geneva and Helsinki, it is easier to see the CSCE's role in advancing human rights in Central and Eastern Europe.

Central Europe Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Aug 31, 2023

Russia is losing in Ukraine but winning in Georgia

By Giorgi Kandelaki

If Putin is able to reassert Russian dominance over Georgia while continuing to occupy 20% of the country, he will be encouraged to believe that a similar outcome will eventually prove possible in Ukraine, writes Giorgi Kandelaki.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Aug 23, 2023

Ukraine’s fight against Russian imperialism is Europe’s longest independence struggle

By Peter Dickinson

The war unleashed by Vladimir Putin eighteen months ago is best understood as the latest chapter in a dark saga of Russian imperial aggression against Ukraine that stretches back centuries, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Aug 22, 2023

Putin weaponizes history with new textbook justifying Ukraine invasion

By Taras Kuzio

A new Kremlin-approved history textbook for Russian schoolchildren offers an unapologetically imperialistic view of Russia's past while attempting to justify the current invasion of Ukraine, writes Taras Kuzio.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Atlantic Debrief

Aug 22, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – Where is Europe headed politically? | A Debrief from Jon Henley

Rachel Rizzo speaks with the Guardian's Jon Henley to unpack the shifting political trends in Europe.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2023

Afghanistan’s next generation must rise above the Taliban’s ‘reality’

By Nasir Andisha

The Taliban are not and never were an acceptable alternative to a democratic state in a pluralistic society such as Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Civil Society

People hold a Venezuelan flag and placards as union workers, members of political opposition parties, and others participate in a protest against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during May Day, in Caracas, Venezuela May 1, 2023

Issue Brief

Aug 11, 2023

Getting Venezuela’s historic humanitarian accord up and running

By Geoff Ramsey, Ignacia Ulloa Peters

Venezuela's crisis has generated a large and complex global emergency. Recent negotiations have resulted in agreements between the Maduro regime and the opposition, including a $3.2 billion Social Agreement. This issue brief highlights five key recommendations for leaders in the United States and abroad to help shape the way for its successful implementation.

Democratic Transitions Latin America

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2023

Did the Niger coup just succeed? And other questions answered about what’s next in the Sahel

By Atlantic Council experts

While ECOWAS has ordered the activation of a "standby force," it has sent a mixed message about intervening. Meanwhile, the military junta in Niger has declared a new government.

Africa Conflict