Elections

What Bangladesh’s first post-Hasina election means for the country’s future

By Rudabeh Shahid, Michael Kugelman

Our experts explain what to expect from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party after it won a parliamentary majority—and what these elections mean for the region.

Why Bangladesh’s elections will echo far beyond its borders

The outcome of Bangladesh’s February 12 election will likely cast a shadow over other upcoming elections in Nepal and India.

Why the Trump administration is refusing to accept a third term for Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki

By Rend Al-Rahim, Victoria J. Taylor 

That the United States would seek to block Maliki from a third term as prime minister is unsurprising given the disastrous record of his premiership from 2006 to 2014.

Why Portugal’s upcoming presidential election has echoes of 1986

By Andrew Bernard

With three major candidates coming from outside the traditional center-left and center-right parties, the field is fractured and wide-open.

Veterans can shape the future of Ukrainian democracy

By Vasyl Sehin

The participation of military veterans in Ukraine's political life has the potential to dramatically strengthen Ukrainian democracy and safeguard the country's historic transition from centuries of Russian autocracy, writes Vasyl Sehin.

Neither free nor fair: What Myanmar’s ‘sham’ elections mean for the country and its neighbors

By Rudabeh Shahid

The ongoing election staged by the ruling junta in Myanmar is structured less as a democratic exercise and more as a managed performance of legitimacy.

Iraq’s pathway to stability relies on transfers of power

By Yerevan Saeed

The key question is not whether Sudani is like al-Maliki but whether a second term would reduce competition and weaken institutions.

First hundred days: How Kast can accelerate US investment in Chile

By Maite Gonzalez Latorre, Jason Marczak

Chile's newly elected president enters office facing a slew of economic pressures: slow growth, weak investment, stagnant productivity, high inequality, limited social mobility, and regional gaps. What can his administration do to jumpstart foreign direct investment?

Democracy, dealmaking, and stability: Rethinking US engagement in Africa

By Mason Ingram, Alysson Oakley, and Jack Higgins

The near- and long-term interests of African societies and key US stakeholders are bolstered by the advancement of democratic, accountable, and stable governance on the continent. A robust democracy assistance strategy in Africa is in line with long-standing US values that underpin America’s reputation and image on the continent, and is also instrumental to current US objectives.