Democracy Lab

About Democracy Lab

Democracy Lab is Foreign Policy's home for coverage of transitions to democracy, published in partnership with the Legatum Institute. Democracy Lab also runs Transitions, a blog featuring on-the-ground coverage of transitioning countries.

Editor, Christian Caryl
Assistant Editor, Ilya Lozovsky

Learn more about Democracy Lab here.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Colombia-Brazil Business Forum in Bogotá on April 16.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Colombia-Brazil Business Forum in Bogotá on April 16.

New Leaders Turn the Region’s Geopolitics on Its Head

Argentina wants to become a NATO partner—and Colombia seeks to join BRICS+.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
A man stands in the center of a busy ammunition factory packaging workfloor, surrounded by equipment and neatly stacked shells as he grabs a 155 mm howitzer shell from a set stacked vertically. The shells are high enough to come up to the man's waist. He wears a T-shirt, gloves, baseball cap, and protective goggles.
A man stands in the center of a busy ammunition factory packaging workfloor, surrounded by equipment and neatly stacked shells as he grabs a 155 mm howitzer shell from a set stacked vertically. The shells are high enough to come up to the man's waist. He wears a T-shirt, gloves, baseball cap, and protective goggles.

The U.S. Munitions Deficit Is a Political Problem

Just three U.S. states receive one-third of all defense contract awards.

Argument
Robert Almelor Delfeld
A chemist checks confiscated powder containing fentanyl at the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory on October 8, 2019 in New York.
A chemist checks confiscated powder containing fentanyl at the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory on October 8, 2019 in New York.

Europe Could Soon Be Hooked on Fentanyl

The continent invented the drug but has been spared its worst ravages—until now.

Analysis
Giovanni Legorano
Chinese President Xi Jinping sits at a wood-paneled desk, shuffling through paper documents as he presides over a meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Xi is a middle-aged man wearing a black suit and red tie, and he wears a serious expression as he reads the documents.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sits at a wood-paneled desk, shuffling through paper documents as he presides over a meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Xi is a middle-aged man wearing a black suit and red tie, and he wears a serious expression as he reads the documents.

Xi Jinping Has Tough Economic Choices Ahead

China is likely to pick security over prosperity.

Argument
Raja Krishnamoorthi
A scene from the movie Civil War.
A scene from the movie Civil War.

What a Real Civil War Would Do to the U.S. Economy

A new film focuses on politics, but the economic impact would be huge.

Insider
Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze
Protesters react as a man holds up a sign demanding that U.S. soldiers leave Niger without negotiation during a demonstration in Niamey. The sign reads: "U.S. Army: You leave, you move, you vanish. No bonus, no negotiation."
Protesters react as a man holds up a sign demanding that U.S. soldiers leave Niger without negotiation during a demonstration in Niamey. The sign reads: "U.S. Army: You leave, you move, you vanish. No bonus, no negotiation."

The U.S. Military Is Getting Kicked Out of Niger

Although it’s the military’s largest presence in the Sahel, the loss is more symbolic than substantive.

Report
Amy Mackinnon
Demonstrators hold signs during a march in protest of funding cuts to public universities in Buenos Aires.
Demonstrators hold signs during a march in protest of funding cuts to public universities in Buenos Aires.

What in the World?

Test yourself on the week of April 20: A high-level Israeli official resigns, Germany arrests alleged spies, and Argentina achieves an economic milestone.

Quiz
Drew Gorman
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing.

Blinken-Xi Talks Highlight Continued Areas of Disagreement

The U.S. secretary of state and the Chinese president tried to stabilize U.S.-China relations, but serious areas of disagreement took the spotlight.

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
People with Free Palestine posters walk past a campus gate that reads "PRESENTED BY THE CLASS OF 1929"
People with Free Palestine posters walk past a campus gate that reads "PRESENTED BY THE CLASS OF 1929"

What Columbia’s Protests Reveal About America

Some politicians have called student protesters a threat. Instead, they are providing us all with an education in democracy.

Analysis
Howard W. French
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the 4th Summit of Arab States and South American countries in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 11, 2015.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the 4th Summit of Arab States and South American countries in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 11, 2015.

Qatar Is Ready to Call Netanyahu’s Hostage Bluff

Frustrated by Israel’s negotiating position, Doha is threatening to walk away.

Analysis
Anchal Vohra
Taiwan’s reserve soldiers take part in military training during a two-week education convocation at a local Taoist temple in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Taiwan’s reserve soldiers take part in military training during a two-week education convocation at a local Taoist temple in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Congress Helps Steer Taiwan Toward the ‘Porcupine Strategy’
Situation Report
Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
A worker picks fruit at a farm at the Malkia kibbutz.
A worker picks fruit at a farm at the Malkia kibbutz.

Israel Is Desperate to Replace Palestinian Farmhands
Dispatch
Joshua Yang
Then-U.S. President Barack Obama, standing with then-Vice President Joe Biden, holds a press conference about the Iran nuclear deal at the White House in Washington on July 14, 2015.
Then-U.S. President Barack Obama, standing with then-Vice President Joe Biden, holds a press conference about the Iran nuclear deal at the White House in Washington on July 14, 2015.

U.S. Fixation on Nuclear Deal Let Iran Loose on the Middle East
Argument
Lina Khatib
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles.

Hundreds of Pro-Palestinian Student Protesters Arrested at U.S. Campuses
World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a press conference after a two-day meeting at the BOJ headquarters.
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a press conference after a two-day meeting at the BOJ headquarters.

Japan’s Big Bet on Interest Rates May Not Pay Off
Analysis
William Sposato
Ishag Abdullah Khatir, 30 from Geneina in West Sudan whose leg was amputated after he was shot by RSF soldiers, walks through Ambelia refugee camp on April 20 in Adre, Chad.
Ishag Abdullah Khatir, 30 from Geneina in West Sudan whose leg was amputated after he was shot by RSF soldiers, walks through Ambelia refugee camp on April 20 in Adre, Chad.

Will Washington Sanction Sudan’s RSF?
Africa Brief
Nosmot Gbadamosi
Protesters speak with police during a demonstration dubbed 'Fabewoso - Bring it on' to raise awareness about the high rate of corruption in the country, in Accra on May 26, 2017.
Protesters speak with police during a demonstration dubbed 'Fabewoso - Bring it on' to raise awareness about the high rate of corruption in the country, in Accra on May 26, 2017.

What Ghana Can Learn From Taiwan
Analysis
Audrey Elom Donkor
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Shanghai.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Shanghai.

Blinken Kicks Off Diplomatic Mission in China
World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
Activists wave Ukrainian flags ahead of a pivotal vote to approve new national security funding, including Ukraine aid, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Activists wave Ukrainian flags ahead of a pivotal vote to approve new national security funding, including Ukraine aid, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Allies Relieved After Senate Passes Long-Delayed Aid Bill
Report
Robbie Gramer, Rishi Iyengar
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in London.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in London.

U.K. Passes Controversial Rwanda Deportation Bill
World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
Ukrainian service members fire at Russian positions on March 27, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian service members fire at Russian positions on March 27, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine Is Still Outgunned by Russia
Analysis
Jack Detsch
China’s silver medalists, Xu Jiayu, Yan Zibei, Zhang Yufei, and Yang Junxuan, stand on the podium next to the British gold medalists after the final of the mixed 4x100m medley relay swimming event during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
China’s silver medalists, Xu Jiayu, Yan Zibei, Zhang Yufei, and Yang Junxuan, stand on the podium next to the British gold medalists after the final of the mixed 4x100m medley relay swimming event during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Does China Have to Play by the Rules?
China Brief
James Palmer

Trending

  1. What Columbia’s Protests Reveal About America
    Analysis
    Howard W. French

  2. Qatar Is Ready to Call Netanyahu’s Hostage Bluff
    Analysis
    Anchal Vohra

  3. What a Real Civil War Would Do to the U.S. Economy
    Insider
    Cameron Abadi, Adam Tooze

  4. Xi Jinping Has Tough Economic Choices Ahead
    Argument
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  5. Israel Is Desperate to Replace Palestinian Farmhands
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    Joshua Yang

  6. ‘The Regime’ Misunderstands Autocracy
    Review
    Anastasia Edel

  7. Nordic Countries Aren’t Actually Socialist
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  8. Blinken-Xi Talks Highlight Continued Areas of Disagreement
    World Brief
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  9. Israel Is a Strategic Liability for the United States
    Argument
    Jon Hoffman

  10. Forget About Chips—China Is Coming for Ships
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  11. The New Idea of India
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Galleries

Protesters—many of them armed—try to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber and are stopped by state police during a protest April 30 demanding that businesses be reopened. An “American Patriot Rally” organized by Michigan United for Liberty was held earlier in the day on the steps of the state Capitol in Lansing. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters—many of them armed—try to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber and are stopped by state police during a protest April 30 demanding that businesses be reopened. An “American Patriot Rally” organized by Michigan United for Liberty was held earlier in the day on the steps of the state Capitol in Lansing. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The Week in World Photos

Global protests against government-imposed lockdowns, gang violence in El Salvador, and hat tips to medical staff.

Diana D'Abruzzo
Muslims offer prayers on April 23, the first night of Ramadan, in Bireuen, Indonesia. AMANDA JUFRIAN/AFP via Getty Images
Muslims offer prayers on April 23, the first night of Ramadan, in Bireuen, Indonesia. AMANDA JUFRIAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Week in World Photos

A prayerful start to Ramadan, medical workers on the front lines of a pandemic, and the annual Lyrids meteor shower.

Diana D'Abruzzo

Latest

In the Magazine

Current Issue: Spring 2020 Archives

In the Magazine

Current Issue: Spring 2020 Archives
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How to Save Global Capitalism From Itself

Decentralizing decision-making can help left-behind regions get back on track.

Essay
Raghuram Rajan
brexit-deglobalization-brian-stauffer-illustration
brexit-deglobalization-brian-stauffer-illustration

Britain’s Post-Brexit Identity Crisis

Boris Johnson has contradictory ideas for his country’s future—and no clear paths for getting there.

Argument
James Crabtree

The Ugly End of Chimerica

The coronavirus pandemic has turned a conscious uncoupling into a messy breakup.

Argument
Orville Schell

The 3 Most Polarizing Words in India

“Jai Shri Ram” was meant to be a celebration of a Hindu deity. But the phrase is turning into hate speech—and a dog whistle for attacks on Muslims.

Decoder
Snigdha Poonam
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