Papers
"Back to the Future: Mobilize the Democratic Faction"
December 10, 2008
Thomas O. Melia
Deputy Executive Director, Freedom House
Freedom is in retreat. Autocracies increasingly cooperate to block reform at home and abroad. Yet many new democracies in their neighborhoods remain committed to human rights. American leadership should galvanize these states in advancing their shared values.
"Upgrading Authortiarianism in the Arab World
October 2007
Steven Heydemann
Associate Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace and former Director, Center for Democracy and Civil Society
After twenty years, Arab regimes have become proficient at containing and disarming democracy promotion—if not exploiting it for their own purposes. Strategies that take advantage of the openings offered by authoritarian upgrading are more likely to advance democratic change in the Middle East than the con tinuation of policies that do not take into account how governance in the Arab world is being transformed.
"The National Iranian Oil Company in Iranian Politics"
March 2007
Daniel Brumberg
Co-director, Center for Democracy and Civil Society and Associate Professor at Georgetown
Ariel I. Ahram
Graduate Fellow, Center for Democracy and Civil Society
Examining the National Iranian Oil Company's position in that country's political economy, the authors conclude that ostensible reforms have enhanced the durability and maneuverability of the authoritarian regime.
