About Get Newsletters Login
February 08, 2012
Browse by Regions and/or Topics

April 20, 2010

When Democracy Derails

After a decade of promising gains, democratic institutions are increasingly under fire, underscoring the need for democracy promotion to be accompanied by democracy protection. But at a time when old-fashioned coups are being supplemented by constitutional power-grabs and violently contested elections, the international community must re-examine the policy tools at its disposal to keep democracy from going off the tracks.

Feature articles in this theme:

Kenya: Rounding the Corner back to Democracy?

By Tom Woods 20 Apr 2010 | World Politics Review

In a country where political intrigue has often substituted for governance, Kenya's two-year-old National Accord offered a pragmatic solution to ending post-election violence and restoring democratic rule. Now the possibility of a new constitution offers hope for Kenya, but the tradition of "winner-take-all" politics -- as well as the accompanying fears of "loser-lose-all" outcomes -- is proving tough to leave behind.

Making Coups History

By Charles Sampford 20 Apr 2010 | World Politics Review

International support is capable of making the difference between the successful defense of democracy and its ignominious defeat. However as the role of international players in the defense of democracy increases, the first line of defense should remain a democracy's own domestic initiatives, with the main role of the international community being to support a domestic response to threats to democracy.

Causes and Implications of the Crisis in Honduras

By Kevin Casas-Zamora 20 Apr 2010 | World Politics Review

Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya's removal from power became the object of acute controversy and gave way to a complex political battle with hemisphere-wide implications. The episode focused attention on very significant questions regarding the geopolitical disputes now raging in Latin America and the limits of the international community's ability to reverse a perceived democratic breakdown.