Today is International Day of Peace. Can you measure what peace is? Roger Mac Ginty and Pamina Firchow - September 21, 2022 One way is to see whether people feel safe going about their daily lives, the Everyday Peace Indicators project finds
Sri Lanka can’t count on China to solve its debt problems Layna Mosley and Peter Rosendorff - September 12, 2022 The country owes a lot of money to a lot of creditors
Sri Lanka’s multiple crises just came to a head Zachariah Mampilly and Fathima Cader - July 22, 2022 The pandemic and past war debts have left the economy in tatters
Worried about the state of democracy? Here are some reasons to be optimistic instead. Miguel Angel Lara Otaola - March 2, 2022 These factors help countries return to democracy after an authoritarian spell, our research finds
20 years later, America’s ‘War on Terror’ language has gone global Somdeep Sen and John Collins - September 9, 2021 Right-wing governments and movements often use these words to justify authoritarian and racist policies.
Paramilitary groups helped storm the Capitol. Here’s what we know about armed groups and politics. Aila Matanock - January 23, 2021 Breaking the ties between politicians and armed groups can prove difficult.
How do newspapers cover racial and religious minorities? Here’s the data. Joshua Tucker - October 2, 2020 Notably, coverage of Muslims was markedly negative in 2019.
Trump is running for reelection as a ‘strongman,’ promising protection from anarchy. That might not work. Sarah Z. Daly - September 21, 2020 Citizens do elect candidates known for violence to protect them from violence — but under certain conditions
The State Department says the Chinese Communist Party controls Chinese companies. It’s not that simple. Meg Rithmire - September 7, 2020 State-funded Chinese firms at times actually subvert Beijing’s interests.
The U.N. has appealed for a global coronavirus cease-fire Govinda Clayton - April 12, 2020 But is it possible to quarantine conflict?
In India, Hindus, Muslims and police are fighting in the streets. Here’s what’s behind the violence. Suparna Chaudhry - February 25, 2020 They’re battling over the new citizenship law.
South Sudan’s peace process faces a February deadline. Could last summer’s flooding actually help? Matthew Hauenstein and Madhav Joshi - February 14, 2020 Natural disasters can help resolve conflict — sometimes
India’s new law may leave millions of Muslims without citizenship Suparna Chaudhry - December 12, 2019 Modi’s government is trying to create a Hindu nation.
Would Republican senators ever vote to convict Trump? Here’s what we can learn from the rest of the world. David Samuels - November 26, 2019 Sure, parties dump their prime ministers — but they rarely throw out ‘their’ presidents. Here’s why.
Trump once talked of a ‘beautiful safe zone’ in Syria. But safe zones aren’t actually safe. Lionel Beehner - October 21, 2019 They can escalate conflicts, research shows.
Why Russia’s garbage protests turned violent Alla Baranovsky-Dewey - August 18, 2019 The bigger stink may be corruption, not trash.
Trump just said buying Greenland would be ‘a large real estate deal.’ He’s making a dangerous mistake. Stacie Goddard - August 16, 2019 Trump doesn’t seem to understand that nations don’t buy and sell territory any more.
Can the U.S. fully defeat the Islamic State? Here’s what can help. Frances Brown - May 20, 2019 ‘Civilian stabilization programs’ are a crucial tool.
The new World Bank head wants some changes. That could backfire. Melvin H. L. Wong, Lennart Kaplan, and Kai Gehring - April 24, 2019 We investigate how aid affects violence in African nations.
Shut down social media if you don’t like terrorism? Joshua Tucker - April 23, 2019 Sri Lanka’s social media ban after the Easter bombings may have many unintended consequences.
What happened in Sri Lanka? Here’s what you need to know. Kate Cronin-Furman - April 23, 2019 These attacks come at a precarious political moment.
A few NGOs are getting a lot of bad press. What’s the overall track record? Rachel Robinson, Jennifer Brass, and Allison Schnable - December 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80998" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rescue workers rest during a search
Why the Nobel Peace Prize went to 2 people fighting sexual violence in war Ragnhild Nordås and Elisabeth Wood - October 8, 2018 As Islamic State forces swept through northern Iraq in 2014,
Xi Jinping pledged $60 billion for Africa. Where will the money go? Winslow Robertson and Lina Benabdallah - September 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77825" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chinese President Xi Jinping stands with
Are drones the new terrorist weapon? Someone tried to kill Venezuela’s president with one. Nicholas Grossman - August 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76585" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Venezuelan National Guard soldiers scatter during
The U.S. withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council. That’s not how the council was supposed to work. Susan Allen and Martin Edwards - June 26, 2018 https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/segments/haley-says-us-withdrawing-from-un-human-rights-council/2018/06/19/cc903144-740b-11e8-bda1-18e53a448a14_video.html?utm_term=.5e47dca26214 Last week, the United States pulled out of the
The crisis in the Maldives, explained Nayma Qayum - February 12, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69103" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Opposition supporters shout slogans during a
China is investing seriously in Latin America. Should you worry? - January 24, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68418" align="aligncenter" width="960"] From left: El Salvador Foreign Minister
Are Sri Lankan officers ordering soldiers to sexually assault Tamil detainees? Kate Cronin-Furman - November 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66336" align="alignleft" width="960"] A Sri Lankan soldier stands at
Is democracy in a worldwide decline? Nope. Here’s our data. Mélida Jiménez - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66295" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)[/caption] What is the
Why a Sri Lankan leader might be tried for war crimes in Brazil Kate Cronin-Furman - August 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63047" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] One of the mothers of the
Trump singled out India to do more in Afghanistan. That could easily backfire. Christopher Clary - August 24, 2017 In the middle of Monday night’s fairly orthodox speech on
Is democracy on the decline? Not as much as some pundits want you to believe. Valeriya Mechkova, Matthew Wilson, and Anna Lührmann - June 26, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55669" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A huge “Vote!” flag waves above
The Internet is changing civil wars. Watch out for these five trends. Barbara Walter - June 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59494" align="aligncenter" width="960"] South Sudanese refugees shelter from the
Where are Europe’s illegal migrants coming from? Surprise: It’s Bangladesh. Nayma Qayum - May 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58568" align="alignleft" width="960"] A rescuer with the Malta-based NGO
Three flawed ideas are hurting international peacebuilding Séverine Autesserre - March 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55314" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Members of former rebel groups wait
Where do African women have more power? Surprise — in countries emerging from war. Aili Tripp - July 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43742" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Catherine Samba-Panza was the acting president
Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war finally ended seven years ago. But moving on from the past is not easy. Kate Cronin-Furman - May 18, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40723" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hundreds of Tamils living in Switzerland
Why Turkey’s authoritarian descent shakes up democratic theory Jason Brownlee - March 23, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37754" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers
What really stands in the way of a negotiated end to Syria’s war? William Reed, Katherine Sawyer, and Gallagher Cunningham - February 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35337" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A civil defence member reacts at
Want to help the Islamic State recruit? Treat all Muslims as potential terrorists. Richard Maass - November 30, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32767" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Sister Munira Salim Abdalla, chief administrator
‘We have talked so much about it, and it just goes nowhere.’ Nimmi Gowrinathan and Kate Cronin-Furman - October 1, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30209" align="aligncenter" width="908"] This photograph, released by the Sri
Is the International Criminal Court really targeting black men? Kate Cronin-Furman - June 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26085" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) arrives
How democratic institutions are making dictatorships more durable Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - March 19, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22871" align="alignnone" width="620"] Supporters of Sudanese President and National
Islamism in the IS age Marc Lynch - March 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22788" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi policemen and Shiite fighters hold
Sri Lanka’s surprise political transition Kate Cronin-Furman - January 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20040" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena greets
Sri Lanka's surprise political transition Laura Seay - January 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_20040" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena greets
What the evidence on interventions really tells us about Syria Lionel Beehner - August 18, 2014 [caption id="attachment_14626" align="aligncenter" width="600"] File: Syrian rebels aim during a
Female suicide bombers are not a new phenomenon Mia Bloom - August 6, 2014 A petrol station sits in ruins after a female suicide
Gaza and the U.N.’s dilemmas of protection Alex Bellamy - July 30, 2014 As a thunderstorm rolled across Manhattan, and the thunder of
Proxy war can have dangerous consequences Erica D. Borghard - July 25, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13635" align="alignnone" width="620"] A pro-Russian fighter stands near a
The logic of violence in the Islamic State’s war Stathis Kalyvas - July 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12670" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Militants take part in a parade
The logic of violence in the Islamic State's war Stathis Kalyvas - July 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12670" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Militants take part in a parade
Red pottus, black burqas: Identity markers in Sri Lanka’s extremist violence Nimmi Gowrinathan - June 17, 2014 Kim Yi Dionne: This guest post by political scientist Nimmi
Caste and ‘the Muslim Vote’ in the Battle for India’s Varanasi Jolie Wood - June 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_11186" align="alignleft" width="300"] Supporters at a rally for BJP
Caste and 'the Muslim Vote' in the Battle for India's Varanasi Jolie Wood - June 4, 2014 [caption id="attachment_11186" align="alignleft" width="300"] Supporters at a rally for BJP
Narenda Modi is confronting his first challenge. Here’s what he’s likely to do. Paul Staniland - May 23, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606"] (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)[/caption] This is a guest
Narenda Modi is confronting his first challenge. Here's what he's likely to do. Paul Staniland - May 23, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606"] (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)[/caption] This is a guest
Hillary in 2016? Not so fast Farida Jalalzai - May 13, 2014 [caption id="attachment_3629" align="aligncenter" width="606"] (Ramin Talaie/Getty Images)[/caption] Kim Yi Dionne:
Noted political scientist, sociologist Juan Linz has died Joshua Tucker - October 3, 2013 [caption id="attachment_915" align="aligncenter" width="400" special=""] Juan Linz (Luis Magán, El
The Study of Conflict Mediation by Political Scientists Joshua Tucker - November 21, 2012 As Hilary Clinton arrives in Israel to attempt to negotiate
No More Cups of Tea: Terrorism Research and the Law Erica Chenoweth - August 1, 2012 This is a guest post from Tanisha Fazal, a political
The Sorry State of Election Administration in the United States John Sides - February 11, 2012 There are many, many tales that can be told about
Collaborating and Defecting Paul Staniland - July 7, 2010 “Collaborator” is a loaded term. It’s used by insurgents to
How do Counterinsurgencies End? Paul Staniland - June 25, 2010 I really appreciate Henry asking me to guest post on
Beyond the Borders of the Nation State: Can Transnational Governance Offer a New Paradigm for Political Representation? Erik Voeten - May 1, 2010 Nimmi Gowrinathan, a Phd Candidate in the Department of Political
Forthcoming Elections: Guest Posters Needed Joshua Tucker - February 15, 2010 For those of you who have enjoyed our "series on
2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election: Post-Election Report Joshua Tucker - February 1, 2010 In our "continuing series of election reports":https://themonkeycage.org/election_reports/, we are pleased
2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election Preview Joshua Tucker - January 26, 2010 "Nimmi Gowrinathan":http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nimmi-gowrinathan, the Director of South Asia Programs at Operation