The Way the Voting is Organised Matters Too.
Read Moredemocracy
Is Democracy in Retreat?
A Harvard academic explains why some kinds of democracy are becoming less popular.
Read MoreRemembering Holodomor; The Great Ukrainian Famine
The connection between famines and democracy may not be obvious. but each sheds light upon the other.
Read MoreAid in dying: time to do something!
It's a new year and we're all getting back to work. One of the things you have to add to your "to do" list in the next fortnight is be a good democratic citizen.
Read MoreJustice Sisi style
The outrageous sham that Egypt's President calls independent justice should stand as a warning not just to journalists working in the country, but to Egyptians themselves. If Sisi can stare down world-wide condemnation, think how little thought he will give to anyone who has no international voice
Read MoreCan Egypt's generals and the Brotherhood embrace democracy?
The latest massacre of pro-Morsi supporters at the hands of the Egyptian military shows the country's push towards democracy is probably going to get a whole lot uglier before it secures the prize.
Read MoreNo two-state solution = no democratic Jewish state
Obama's visit to Israel and Palestine may have been a subtle but determined new attitude towards restarting the moribund peace negotiations. No guarantees, and hopefully not another case of misguided hope, but theAmerican President made it clear that no separation wall and no missile protection system offers long term solutions.
Read MoreClinton's democracy headaches
US recognition of Egypt's democratically elected Islamist President, begs questions over the fate of Gaza's democratically elected Islamist leaders, how the US forces old Egyptian military friends to play democratic ball, and, right next door, convince Israel to chuck out a report that, if implemented, will end Israel's (albeit disputed) claim to be a democracy.
Read MoreMubarak's one-fingered salute
Egypt's old military dictator is trapped in a parallel universe where he thinks he can still reward and punish his own people as if they still fear him, tell them to go home as if they will obey him, and then sic the military on them to break them.
Read MoreJaundiced towards the Junta: what freeing Suu Kyi really means
Burma's military thugs undoubtedly want something in return for releasing perfect hostage Aung San Suu Kyi, but world leaders who have used her fame to preach democracy must now make sure the generals find no reason to re-arrest her
Read MoreNorway's one-fingered salute to China
The Nobel Peace Prize committee awards this year's prize to a Chinese dissident, and China responds
Read MoreSelling arms to the Saudis: Obama's big sell-out
An emerging unholy alliance between Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US is a key driver behind potentially the biggest arms deal in US history
Read MoreJust who are you calling powerful, Mr Hide?
Have politicians forgotten just who really holds the power in a democracy?
Read MoreNational pride: great country, okay government
After a year of elision and mishap, John Key's government has hit its stride
Read MoreThe rhetoric and reality gap: MPs talking crap
We learn to expect a certain standard of behaviour from our politicians—but that doesn’t excuse it
Read MoreThe king of fraud capitulates
Afghanistan's Hamad Karzai has faced up to the unpalatable reality that he did not win the August election, and must now front up for a run-off in two weeks time. How can Afghan citizens, so widely defrauded the first time, be convinced to go through it all again?
Read MorePlaying host to a terrorist, a thief and a choirboy
You've gotta love the UN as it plays host to the rehabilitated terrorist Qaddafi and the thief of democracy Ahmadinejad, who in turn send diplomats and fellow leaders to sleep or to walk out in protest. All that and Obama's inaugural UN speech as President.
Read MoreKarzai limps towards an illegitimate victory
As Afghanistan's votes are counted the fraud accusations grow, the size of the turnout appears dismal and the new US military review doesn't tell us much that's new
Read MoreWhat price democracy? Ask the brave Afghans
To understand the Aghan election we will need to re-think our idea of success
Read MoreLatest US mercy dash forgets to get the gal
As the US sweeps in to rescue an American from the clutches of the Burmese military junta, the woman the world really wants to see free, Aung San Suu Kyi, is left behind to her fate
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