Archbishop Tutu’s radical commitment to humanity led him to criticize parties, people and institutions Carolyn E. Holmes - December 27, 2021 The beloved anti-apartheid activist demanded that the African National Congress also meet the standards of ‘ubuntu’
Autocratic governments are using coronavirus as a pretext to clamp down on opponents Travis Curtice, Mel Pavlik, Hilary Matfess, and Don Grasse - July 30, 2020 Here’s what we found in Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Four ways Donald Trump is already manipulating the U.S. elections Spencer Piston and Nic Cheeseman - June 15, 2020 Biden said Trump will try to steal the election. That’s already underway.
African dictators have been losing power — some to democratic governments. Militaries can tip the scales toward democracy. Nathaniel Allen and Alexander Noyes - September 15, 2019 These five factors make the difference between militaries that support autocracy and those that allow free elections.
What’s behind South Africa’s xenophobic violence in 2019? Carolyn Holmes - September 9, 2019 Violence against immigrants has sparked a diplomatic crisis
Robert Mugabe has died. But Zimbabwe’s institutional legacies that shaped his repressive regime live on. Vasabjit Banerjee - September 8, 2019 The stakes are high for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who promised to reboot the economy
How will the African Union respond to the military overthrow in Sudan? Emmanuel Balogun and Anna Mwaba - April 24, 2019 It has not responded consistently to unconstitutional changes in government.
Sudan’s upheaval is the latest example of a ‘gray-zone coup’ Nandita Balakrishnan - April 17, 2019 Autocrats learned “coup-proofing” — and militaries learned negotiating.
4 in 10 Africans are deeply committed to democracy. That’s the good news. Robert Mattes - March 5, 2019 Afrobarometer finds that the level of commitment varies dramatically by country. Here’s the breakdown.
Why are so many African leaders shutting off the Internet in 2019? Chipo Dendere - January 30, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83225" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters gather near a burning tire
Do international observers go easy on African elections? Susan Dodsworth - November 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78810" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An electoral official counts ballots at
It’s been one year since Zimbabwe toppled Mugabe. Why isn’t it a democracy yet? Mwita Chacha and Jonathan Powell - November 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80093" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa addresses the
What do shifting grass-roots dynamics tell us about the Zimbabwe election? Kathleen Klaus, Jeffrey Paller, and George Bob-Milliar - August 30, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77245" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A soldier looks at a portrait
Even after Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s elections do not appear free or fair Vasabjit Banerjee - August 22, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76955" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Opposition supporters burn posters of Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe won’t be voting for Robert Mugabe today. That’s a big change. Chipo Dendere - July 30, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76165" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwean voters line up before dawn
Zimbabwe has an election coming up. Is political violence brewing? Chipo Dendere - July 2, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75223" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Injured people are attended to after
In Africa, presidential term limits are working Alexander Noyes - April 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68543" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Departing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrives for
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader died. Here’s what you need to know. Chipo Dendere - February 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69374" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a crowd on
After Mugabe, can ZANU-PF still rule Zimbabwe? Adrienne LeBas - December 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67297" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwe's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa receives
Offering pensions can help autocrats stay in power longer Magnus Rasmussen and Carl Knutsen - December 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66851" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes
What went wrong for Mugabe? Most aging dictators don’t get toppled by coups. Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - November 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66568" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People gather outside Harare's airport to
Mugabe is what happens when an authoritarian regime abides by its constitution Chipo Dendere - November 22, 2017 Last week, Zimbabwe’s military took control of the government, it
Without Mugabe, is democracy coming to Zimbabwe? Probably not. Kristen Harkness - November 22, 2017 On Tuesday, after 37 years of authoritarian rule, Robert Mugabe
Is Zimbabwe ready to move on without Mugabe? Naunihal Singh - November 18, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66431" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe sits for
To understand the coup in Zimbabwe, you need to know more about Grace Mugabe Chipo Dendere - November 15, 2017 In Zimbabwe, the military has taken control of the capital,
Here’s what’s happening in Zimbabwe Clionadh Raleigh - November 15, 2017 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwe Army General Constantino Chiwenga, right,
Zimbabwe created a new ministry to monitor social media. But most Zimbabweans don’t want government monitoring. Kim Yi Dionne and Chipo Dendere - October 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65161" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Pastor Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean activist,
Will there be a military coup in Zimbabwe? Probably not. Here’s why. Alexander Noyes - August 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61937" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Cameroon has been in crisis for six months. Here’s what you need to know. Yonatan Morse - June 2, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59202" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Cameroon’s President Paul Biya and wife
This short video shows what Africans think of their elections Kim Yi Dionne - March 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55210" align="aligncenter" width="800"] (Afrobarometer via YouTube)[/caption] In a new
When ailing dictators die in office, what happens next? Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - December 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50410" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Uzbek President Islam Karimov in 2015.
Do Africans still want democracy? This new report gives a qualified yes. Robert Mattes and Michael Bratton - November 25, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50077" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A member of the Economic Freedom
Can your spouse help you get elected? Here’s what data from Africa say. Kim Yi Dionne - November 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48948" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Melania Trump shakes hands with former
Liberia has an important transition of power on the horizon. Here’s a preview. Kim Yi Dionne - October 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48262" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Two men speak on a street in Monrovia,
Malawians are missing their president. The last time that happened, the president was dead. Kim Yi Dionne - October 14, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47813" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Billboards of Malawi President Peter Mutharika
This two-minute video sums up African public opinion Kim Yi Dionne - October 7, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47470" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] (Afrobarometer via YouTube)[/caption] No, Africa is
How democratic is Botswana after 50 years of independence? Kim Yi Dionne - September 30, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47069" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Botswana's President Ian Khama sits at
A year ago, most Zimbabweans trusted Mugabe. Here’s why so many are now protesting in the streets. Kim Yi Dionne - September 23, 2016 [caption id="attachment_46731" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A father covers the face of
Is electoral violence in sub-Saharan Africa overreported? This new book looks at the data. Stephanie Burchard and Kim Yi Dionne - August 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45073" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of President Edgar Lungu gather
Did protests in Zimbabwe really go from ‘tweets to streets’? Lauren Young - July 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43826" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of the #ThisFlag campaign demonstrate outside
Brexit isn’t all that special. Here’s why nations leave international organizations. Felicity Vabulas - July 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43244" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man waves a Union Jack
Peru rejected Keiko Fujimori, but most new democracies vote authoritarian parties back into office. Here’s why. James Loxton - June 16, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42106" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators rally against presidential candidate Keiko
36 years after Zimbabwe’s independence, the country faces these 4 big questions Brooks Marmon - April 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_39777" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his
Free and fair elections attract investment, no matter who’s elected. Here’s why. Mike Touchton - January 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_32114" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Campaign posters of opposition presidential candidate
Why China’s role in Africa isn’t as dominant as you think Jake Bright and Aubrey Hruby - December 4, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33123" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Chinese President Xi Jinping walks with
When China gives aid to African governments, they become more violent Roudabeh Kishi and Clionadh Raleigh - December 2, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33009" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Chinese President Xi Jinping watches traditional
Burma votes on Sunday. Why do authoritarian governments even hold elections? Lee Morgenbesser - November 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31900" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Supporters of the Union Solidarity and
Piketty thinks South Africa needs to redistribute land. Democracies can’t do that. Dictators can. Michael Albertus - October 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30832" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] A man cuts sugarcane on a
Calling George Clooney: Here's a role with a social scientist as the action hero! - September 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28881" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] George Clooney and Colin Powell at
Calling George Clooney: Here’s a role with a social scientist as the action hero! Todd Moss - September 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28881" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] George Clooney and Colin Powell at
Is ‘China in Africa’ something to fear? W. French - July 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26832" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] South African President
Is 'China in Africa' something to fear? Laura Seay - July 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26832" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] South African President
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan’s president? Mark Kersten - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan's president? - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
When presidents fall, literally Kim Yi Dionne - February 15, 2015 Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe fell earlier this month after losing his
Burkina Faso’s uprising part of an ongoing wave of African protests Zachariah Mampilly - November 2, 2014 In 1984, a year after coming to power at the
The British colonial origins of anti-gay laws Joseph O'Mahoney and Enze Han - October 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17460" align="aligncenter" width="620"] People protesting in London in December
What ordinary Africans might want prioritized during U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Kim Yi Dionne - August 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13977" align="aligncenter" width="654"] President Obama participates in a joint
Why Ukraine’s Yanukovych fell but so many analysts (including me) predicted he would survive Joshua Tucker - February 26, 2014 Joshua Tucker: The following is a guest post from University
What makes some elections violent? Joshua Tucker - January 30, 2014 [caption id="attachment_6049" align="aligncenter" width="610" special=""] Bangladeshi police officers kick a
Putin in 2012: Expert Analysis Joshua Tucker - September 26, 2011 Following up on my "previous post":http://tmc.org/blog/2011/09/25/putin-in-2012-guest-commentary-2/, here are a number
A “Global Crisis of Legitimacy”? John Sides - August 22, 2011 Felix Salmon wonders if we are entering a "global crisis
2011 Ugandan Presidential Election: Pre-Election Report Joshua Tucker - February 17, 2011 We are pleased to welcome "Elliott Green":http://www2.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/Experts/e.d.green@lse.ac.uk, a Lecturer in
Theory, Politics and the League of Democracies - July 30, 2008 In 1991-92, political science theory, campaign politics and global trends