China’s top leadership excludes women for the first time in two decades
Is Xi Jinping’s new all-male Politburo backing away from the communist party’s commitment to advancing women?
Is Russia headed for a return to Stalinism?
Putin can’t reconstruct the regime that Stalin built — or save Russia from chaos
In words and deeds, Putin shows he’s rejecting even Soviet-era borders
His speech this week makes it clear he’s out to restore “historic Russia”
Moldova’s president now has a legislative majority to push through her anti-corruption agenda
Voters in this week’s snap elections were more concerned about graft than geopolitics.
Chinese leaders boast about China’s rising power. The real story is different.
A closer read of embedded clues in China’s political communications reveals caution and insecurity
Russians in the Far East have been protesting for weeks. What does that say about democracy in Russia?
These events demonstrate how competitive politics might reemerge in other parts of the country
Hong Kong’s protests looked a lot like Shanghai anti-colonial protests a century ago
This time, the protests were against a new imperial power: China.
China is also relying on propaganda to tackle the covid-19 crisis
That includes Xi Jinping’s visit to Wuhan. So is the media blitz working?
Why China’s politics makes it easier — and harder — to control disease outbreaks
It’s not just about wild animal markets.
The Hong Kong protests have been going on for months. What explains this sustained action?
Here’s how leaderless protests get people out on the streets.
Germany’s far-right AfD party might be the big winner in tomorrow’s regional elections. Here’s what that means.
AfD is likely to emerge as the main opposition party in both Brandenburg and Saxony.
Why Russia’s garbage protests turned violent
The bigger stink may be corruption, not trash.
Czech protesters are trying to defend democracy, 30 years after the Velvet Revolution. Can they succeed?
Our research shows that, yes, demonstrations can prevent the erosion of democracy. Here’s what’s going on.
In Prague, protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš
Why is liberal democracy under threat in the Czech Republic?
Tinder just agreed to let Russia review its data on demand. That could be dangerous for Russians.
So why does Russia want to peek into its citizens’ bedrooms?
How has Tiananmen changed China?
Violence can influence people for a long time — despite repression — because families talk about it.
When left-leaning parties support austerity, their voters start to embrace the far right
[caption id="attachment_80438" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Left- and right-wing sympathizers hold flags
The Communist Party is supporting the Czech coalition government. What are the implications?
[caption id="attachment_76064" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Prime Minister Andrej Babis addresses the
Poland’s right-wing government has a new prime minister. Here are the 5 things you need to know.
The Polish Law and Justice Party (PiS) government has a
Europeans have lost faith in their governments and institutions. Why? We did the research.
[caption id="attachment_63787" align="alignnone" width="960"] A supporter of Greece's extreme right party
France votes on Sunday. Can an “enemy of the Republic” pull off a victory?
[caption id="attachment_57605" align="aligncenter" width="960"] LEFT: Centrist French presidential candidate Emmanuel
This is what the gradual erosion of rule of law looks like in Poland
[caption id="attachment_52816" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Opposition party Nowoczesna leader Ryszard Petru,
Why are there protests in Poland? Here are the five things you need to know.
Poland is gripped by its most severe constitutional crisis since
Read this book if you want to know what China’s citizens really think about their government
[caption id="attachment_47215" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes
Here’s the century-long history behind Colombia’s peace agreement with the FARC
[caption id="attachment_47019" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A member of the Revolutionary Armed
Uzbekistan had the same president for 25 years. What happens now?
[caption id="attachment_45908" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov greets people
Ukraine defeated Russia — at Eurovision. Here’s why that matters
[caption id="attachment_40894" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Eurovision Song Contest winner Jamala is
How two under-appreciated factors mobilize violence like the Paris attacks
[caption id="attachment_32920" align="aligncenter" width="908"] French police officers patrol near the
Some in Eastern Europe are welcoming refugees. Some aren’t. Here’s why.
[caption id="attachment_29658" align="aligncenter" width="1918"] Migrants board a train in Keleti
Some in Eastern Europe are welcoming refugees. Some aren't. Here's why.
[caption id="attachment_29658" align="aligncenter" width="1918"] Migrants board a train in Keleti
Who is running the Egyptian state?
[caption id="attachment_28102" align="aligncenter" width="908"] FILE: In this photo provided by
What WWII-era Italy teaches us about post-conflict politics in places like Burundi
[caption id="attachment_25388" align="aligncenter" width="5152"] A Burundi army soldier raises his
Fraud in the Ukrainian election? Not this time.
[caption id="attachment_17378" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko holds his
Ukraine’s next electoral challenge
[caption id="attachment_15271" align="alignnone" width="620"] A Ukrainian policeman stands in front
A presidential candidate in Brazil just died. Now what?
[caption id="attachment_14453" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos poses
The political limits of Grecovery
[caption id="attachment_13735" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A SYRIZA rally in front of
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Approval Ratings
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POOL PHOTO"] President Vladimir Putin answers
Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Approval Ratings
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POOL PHOTO"] President Vladimir Putin answers
Why victory for Bachelet in Chile is undeniable but bittersweet
[caption id="attachment_3497" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Michelle Bachelet voting in Chile's
Is Zeman ze man?
[caption id="attachment_3245" align="alignleft" width="150" special=""] Czech President Milos Zeman (Reuters)[/caption]
Bachelet to be elected president of Chile, but then what?
[caption id="attachment_2851" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Michelle Bachlet (Roberto Candia/AP)[/caption] [Joshua
Sex, lies and votes: Welcome to the 2013 Czech elections!
[caption id="attachment_2228" align="alignleft" width="200" special=""] God save the prince: Election
Crossing the line in China: Calls for action, not simply dissent
[caption id="attachment_1670" align="aligncenter" width="350" special=""] Professor Xia Yeliang (Photo credit:
2013 Albanian Post-Election Report: The Quick, Quiet Albanian Elections and the End of Transitional Politics
Continuing our series of Election Reports, the following Albanian post-election report
Post-Election Report: 2013 Bulgarian Parliamentary Elections
We are pleased to continue our series of Election Reports with the
What do legislatures in authoritarian regimes do?
No, this post is not going to feature another picture
Pre-Election Report: Ukraine 2012 Parliamentary Election
In our continuing series of election reports, we now present
Election Report: The Secret Election of Moldova’s Unknown President
The following election report on Moldova's recent indirect presidential election
A New Solidarity Movement in Hungary?
I was lecturing about transitions to democracy today, and I
A Resonant Signal: The Russian Parliamentary Elections of December 2011
Our next report on the 2011 Russian parliamentary elections comes
2011 Portuguese Parliamentary Election: Post-Election Report
As part of our continuing series of election reports, we
Presidential and congressional elections in Chile, December 2009 and January 2010
In our continuing "series of election reports":https://themonkeycage.org/2009/09/election_reports_and_political.html, we are pleased
2009 Chilean Election Preview
"Once again":https://themonkeycage.org/election_reports/, we welcome "Gregory Weeks":http://www.politicalscience.uncc.edu/gbweeks/, this time with pre-election
2009 Moldovan Parliamentary Electons: Take 2
The previous "Moldovan parliamentary elections":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldovan_parliamentary_election,_April_2009 - held in April of