Religious tensions, remnants of the police state, and a broken-down neoliberal economic model imperil Tunisia’s otherwise impressive democratic transition.
Tunisia’s Unfinished Revolution
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Democracy & Governance
Public and Private in Poland
In Poland, the market has replaced Solidarity as a symbol of civil society.
The Wall
Few images from the last days of the Cold War are as enduring in the West as the fall of the Berlin Wall. But in Central and Eastern Europe, a more complex picture emerges.
The Bad News about Burma
Backsliding reforms, attacks on civilians, and evidence of war crimes are among the troubling reports just ahead of President Obama’s visit to Burma.
History Didn’t Bring Down the Berlin Wall — Activists Did
Mass uprisings like the one that brought down the Soviet bloc are neither as rare — nor as spontaneous — as they first appear.
The U.S. Just Lost a Client State in West Africa. What Happens Now?
With a U.S.-trained military officer now running Burkina Faso, will Washington press for a democratic transition or legitimize a military coup?
Recreating Central Europe
According to Central Europe expert Dariusz Kalan, the biggest mistake since the Warsaw Pact was disbanded is that “we don’t have a common voice in Central Europe.”
South Korea and the Politics of Patience
In the “fast-fast” political culture of South Korea, some leaders are patiently—and effectively—making strides for democracy, clean energy, and maybe even peace.
The “Upright Men” of Burkina Faso Wish President Compaoré a Not-so-Fond Farewell
Burkina Faso, known as the “land of upright men” (pace women), forced long-time president Blaise Compaoré to resign.
Korea’s Balloon War
South Korean activists are using balloons to send political and religious propaganda across the DMZ. They’re also endangering Koreans on both sides of the border.