In a rebuttal to a recent article by Dalibor Rohac and Marian L. Tupy, Christina Chang argues that the World Bank's Doing Business report needs to be reformed.

Anna Nemtsova reports from Moscow's Bolotnaya Square, where opposition activists are returning to demand that President Putin step down.

David Scott Mathieson calls for Burma's president, Thein Sein, to put the military on a leash.

Juan Nagel explains to Venezuela's new president why tackling inflation is crucial.

Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez offers some free advice to Arab Spring democrats on the do's and don'ts of constitution-writing.

Joshua Foust reviews Philip Shishkin's new book on the tumultuous politics of Central Asia.

In our latest collaboration with Princeton's Innovations for Successful Societies, Gabriel Kuris details Latvia's efforts to crack down on corruption.

Meriem Dhaouadi assails the persistent racism against dark-skinned Africans in Tunisia.

Mohamed Eljarh warns that by bowing to militiamen that Libya is seriously undermining its fledgling democracy. 

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Writing in The Atlantic, Thor Halvorssen reveals how the Human Rights Foundation pulled off its Argo-esque plan to rescue Bahraini dissident blogger Ali Abdulemam.

The International Crisis Group assesses the impact of the Syrian war on its neighbor Lebanon.

The International Center for Transitional Justice hails the conviction of former Guatemalan dictator José Efrain Ríos Montt on genocide charges. In the photo above, Efrain Ríos Montt listens to his sentence being read out.

A United Nations affiliate, offers guidelines for foreign businesses investing in Burma on how to consult with affected groups.

Writing at Dr. Sean's Diary, Seán Hanley argues that technocrats are threatening democracy in Eastern Europe.

In Dawn, Murtaza Haider praises Pakistanis for making it to the polls in spite of well-founded fears of violence.

Writing for Tunisia Live, Roua Khlifi explains how Tunisian Sufis are safeguarding their traditions in the face of rising threats from ultraconservative Wahhabi Muslims.

And finally, be sure to check out Bird of Chaman, Flower of the Khyber: Riding Shotgun from Karachi to Kabul in a Pakistani Truck, FP's new ebook, detailing a reporter's wild journey in the back of a Pakistani truck from Karachi to Kabul through the treacherous Afghanistan-Pakistan borderlands. It's available here and on Amazon.

Anna Nemtsova interviews Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, the mother of the brothers suspected of bombing the Boston marathon.

Dalibor Rohac and Marian L. Tupy take on critics of the World Bank's influential Doing Business survey.

Francis Wade profiles the Burmese monks whose nationalist politics are promoting ethnic violence against Rohingya Muslims.

Christian Caryl follows up by looking at the history of violence in Buddhist culture.

Seema Shah accuses U.S. democracy promotion organizations of misrepresenting the recent presidential election in Kenya.

Mohamed Eljarh reports on the resurgence of federalist politics in Libya and the recent car bomb attack on the French embassy in Tripoli.

Juan Nagel examines the case for electoral fraud now being advanced by Venezuelan opposition leader Henriques Capriles.

Mohamed El Dahshan explores the latest scandal involving U.N. peacekeepers in Morocco.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Al Jazeera interviews Prime Minister Najib Razak about the upcoming elections in Malaysia.

Conor Friedersdorf reports for The Atlantic on the Yemeni man who testified to Congress that drone strikes on his village are making al Qaeda stronger.

Writing in The National Interest, Jordan Michael Smith argues that U.S. efforts to promote democracy in other countries may be having the opposite effect.

Lincoln Mitchell writes for The American Interest that the 2012 Georgian elections reveal the challenges of future democracy promotion efforts.

In its Democracy Index 2012, the Economist Intelligence Unit offers a skeptical take on the global progress of democracy. The Economist asks whether the recent Kosovo-Serbia peace deal signals new hope for the Balkans.

The Transnational Institute releases an important report on Burma's political reform and its consequences for ethnic conflict.

Madawi al-Rasheed writes in Jadaliyya on efforts by Saudi Islamists to reconcile democracy and Islamic rule. 

In the run-up to a crucial general election in Malaysia, Deborah Loh profiles Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the hope of a new generation of reformers.

Anna Nemtsova reports on the Russian resort town of Sochi, where some inhabitants are suffering from the construction of the new Olympic city.

Thor Halvorssen and Gary Kasparov profile Miguel Hernández, a Venezuelan man who has faced years of legal trouble because he wore a Bart Simpson shirt criticizing Hugo Chávez.

Rula al-Saffar assails the Bahraini authorities for targeting doctors who try to help protestors.

Isobel Coleman breaks down critiques of the little explained BRICS bank into ten simple questions.

Juan Nagel looks at the many mysteries surrounding Venezuelan presidential-elect Nicolás Maduro.

Maikel Nabil Sanad reveals the unique partnership springing up between Egyptian and Israeli objectors to mandatory conscription.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

The April issue of the Journal of Democracy analyzes the relationship between Islamists and democracy, the role of armies in revolutions, and a series of lessons from Latin America.

In a piece for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Mahmoud Salem contends that the International Monetary Fund shouldn't loan additional funds to Egypt without putting more pressure on President Morsy. Bradley Hope, reporting for the United Arab Emirates' The National, describes Egypt's efforts to track down the money squirreled away by the family of deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak. And a Chatham House report by Anthony F. Lang argues for greater realism when assessing post-revolutionary efforts to write a new Egyptian constitution.

The Atlantic Council's Faysal Itani discusses the political ramifications of Jordan's deepening economic challenges.

Jadaliyya's Fabio Merone presents the results of his interviews with a young leader of Tunisia's Ansar al-Sharia

Reporting for Time, Justin Bergman asks if Burma can avoid the curse of sex tourism.

In Americas Quarterly, Democracy Lab contributors Thor Halvorssen and Javier El-Hage argue that the Venezuelan electoral commission is showing its weakness by blocking the Organization of American States from monitoring the presidential election.

The crisis mapping group Ushahidi releases the results of its survey of hate speech during the recent presidential campaign in Kenya.

Writing for Foreign Policy's Middle East Channel, Mark Beissinger, Amaney Jamal, and Kevin Mazur present the findings of the Arab Barometer's survey of political participation during the Arab Spring. 

 

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A happy Easter to all those celebrating this week!

In the latest for our new Putinology column, Anna Nemtsova reveals the unruly forces that are troubling the Kremlin's security services. 

Juan Nagel bemoans the absurdity of Nicolás Maduro's presidential campaign in Venezuela.

Mohamed Eljarh assesses a weak point in Libya's media reform that is essential to the country's democratic transition.

Jonathan Morduch and Timothy Ogden advocate using microfinance to meet the real financial needs of the world's poor.

Min Zin argues that Burma's political elite have failed their country in preventing a recurring pattern of ethnic violence.

Mohamed El Dahshan makes an emotional appeal not to ignore the struggling revolution in Bahrain. He also criticizes the latest foreign relations decisions of the Egyptian government.

Greg Rushford argues that it's not just the world's advanced economies driving trade inequality.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Reporting for The New York Times, Alissa J. Rubin shares the economic hardships forcing an Afghani father to give away his daughter, and the government that won't support him.

In a new paper for the New America Foundation, Philip Napoli and Jonathan Obar examine the global phenomenon where new internet users are gaining access by using cell phones instead of computers.

International Crisis Group assesses the growing discontent in Eritrea and the potential for a violent power struggle.

In a recent Issue Perspective for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Stephen Engelken argues that India and Pakistan need to expand their trade ties in order to maintain peace in South Asia.

Kishore Mahbubani responds to Francis Fukuyama's essay "What is governance?" by arguing that good governance is possible without democracy.

Following Russia's latest crackdown on non-profits and activists, Russian journalist Masha Gessen writes for the International Herald Tribune, comparing the tactics to the Soviet Union.

Andrew Lebovich reports on the drug war that's fueling corruption in Mali -- and may pose a greater threat to the country's institutions than terrorism.

Mohamed Eljarh argues that the self-prescribed exile of a Libyan member of government should be a wake-up call for political unification.

Juan Nagel observes that the presidential candidacy of Venezuela's Henrique Capriles is tantamount to a death wish.

In the latest of our continuing series of collaborations with Princeton's Innovations for Successful Societies, Varanya Chaubey, Amy Mawson and Gabriel Kuris tell the story of how Guyana succeeded in overcoming ethnic tensions to have a peaceful election in 2006.

Finally, Christian Caryl explains how a British activist's quixotic fight against one of the Malaysian government's powerful allies could affect the approaching general election in that country.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Ned Parker and Raheem Salman profile Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in World Policy Journal.

Writing for Majalla, Syrian exile Malik Al-Abdeh describes how two years of bloody civil war in his homeland has changed his life.

In The Atlantic, Jeffrey Tayler interviews Inna Shevchenko, the leader of the controversial activist group FEMEN.

Also in The Atlantic, Jake Spring reports in on the difficulties Burma's journalists face in starting from scratch after decades of media suppression.

In the Washington Post, Simon Denyer tells the story of one of Burma's most established dissidents, who is now aiming his criticisms not only at the government but also at pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Time magazine's Fareed Zakaria argues that the failure to write new constitutions is the main flaw hampering transitions in the Arab Spring countries.

Chris Blattman, Alexandra Hartman, and Rob Blair present a new paper on how to promote property rights in situations where the rule of law is weak.

And finally, in a new paper published in the journal Governance, Francis Fukuyama asks (fittingly enough) "What is Governance?" 

Sixty years after the death of the Soviet dictator, Masha Lipman reports on the complex legacy of Joseph Stalin in today's Russia.

Jeffrey Gedmin explains why -- contrary to the claims of some Washington officials -- the fact that Iranians can vote in elections doesn't make their country a democracy.

Just in time for Kenya's general election this week, Daniel Branch explores the contradictions of a place that combines a booming economy with political dysfunction. Seema Shah reports on Kenya's new electoral commission, the key institution in the election.

Tom Pepinsky contends that Indonesia's experience of political transition actually doesn't offer relevant lessons for Egypt or Tunisia.

In his column, DemLab editor Christian Caryl examines the centrality of land disputes in political conflicts around the world -- and why the people in rich countries often fail to notice.

Neha Paliwal wonders whether Bangladesh's Shahbag Square protest is about receiving justice or getting revenge.

Mohamed Eljarh looks at Libyan society's controversial efforts to purge the people of the old regime.

Visiting Morocco, Mohamed El Dahshan offers an update on the travails of that country's pro-democracy movement.

And Robert Looney weighs in on the pros and cons of Evo Morales' populist economic agenda in Bolivia.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Joshua Kurlantzick, writing in Foreign Policy, argues that democracy around the world is receding -- and explains who's responsible.

Hernando de Soto reminds readers in The Wall Street Journal of the centrality of the economic frustrations that fueled the Arab Spring.

Writing in Your Middle East, Musa al-Gharbi explains why the international community should develop flexible policies toward transitional countries where voters don't necessarily embrace democracy.

The Irrawaddy examines Washington's dealings with a Burmese business tycoon who's still on a U.S. sanctions blacklist -- underlining the ambiguities of the West's relationship with the regime.

In a provocative review of the development bestseller "Why Nations Fail," Bloomberg's Clive Crook reveals why he doesn't entirely buy the authors' argument.

Reuters reports on a museum opened by Yemen's former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to document his rule.

Democracy Digest introduces a book by veteran journalist Carolyn Robinson on her experiences training journalists in post-revolutionary Libya.

The Council on Foreign Relation's Tom Bollyky explains why the use of big data is crucial to combating the non-communicable diseases that still account for the world's biggest health problems.

Challenging conventional wisdom, Juan Cole analyzes a backlash against the "Muslim religious right" in various parts of the Islamic world.

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Christian Caryl explains why George W. Bush deserves to be remembered as the greatest presidential humanitarian.

Anna Nemtsova reports on the deepening standoff between Georgia's president and recently elected prime minister.

Roger Bate illuminates the dark side of free trade zones.

Juan Nagel diagnoses faulty messaging from the government in Venezuela thanks to the absence of communicator-in-chief Hugo Chavez.

Mohamed Eljarh offers a situation report on Libya two years after the revolution began. And Mohamed El Dahshan laments the failed promise of political change in Egypt.

Finally, Neha Paliwal provides a unique look at the women's rights demonstrations that took place around the globe in the run-up to Valentine's Day.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Freedom House presents a powerful video clip in which Bahraini human rights activist Maryam Al-Khawaja speaks about the fight for freedom.

Human Rights Watch releases its 2013 World Report on conditions in more than 90 countries and territories.

Writing in The National Interest, Leon Hadar explains why aspiring to "universal democracy" doesn't make sense as a strategy.

Pictured above, Cuban dissident blogger, Yoani Sanchez, leaves Cuba for the first time in almost a decade. The Miami Herald reports that she was heckled by pro-Castro supporters during her first stop in Brazil. 

Agence France-Presse reports that Zimbabwe has been arresting activists who are meeting to discuss the draft constitution presented by the government.

Kristine Eck argues in Al Jazeera that Burma's democratic transition is doomed to failure unless the constitution is re-written. The Committee to Protect Journalists questions the legitimacy of media reforms in Burma amid a new wave of cyber-attacks on news organizations.

International Crisis Group assesses Tunisia's Salafi challenge and the rising wave of violence. The Atlantic Council explains why the tragic murder of opposition leader Chokri Belaid's death may lead to greater popular participation in the constitution-drafting process.

As Democracy Lab celebrates its first anniversary, editor Christian Caryl shares some of the channel's highlights from the past year.

Morten Jerven weighs in on our debate about African economics by taking a closer look at the numbers.

Egyptian activist Maikel Nabil Sanad blasts Germany for welcoming President Morsy on a state visit.

Alexander Cooley explains how Russia, China, and their regional allies have been building a common front against democratic norms.

In the latest of our continuing series of collaborations with Princeton's Innovations for Successful Societies, Amy Mawson tells the story of how South Africa overcame the challenge of its first post-apartheid election.

Juan Nagel explains why Venezuela's fiscal policy is basically a Ponzi scheme. 

Min Zin shares some skeptical reflections from his recent trip to Burma.

And Endy Bayuni reports on the recent corruption scandals plaguing Indonesia's main Islamist party.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Cambodia bid farewell to their controversial former monarch, King Norodom Sihanouk, as he was finally cremated this weekend after passing away in October 2012. Pictured above are members of the funeral procession, resting by the Mekong River.

The International Crisis Group warns of the likelihood of intensifying political conflict in Egypt. ICG authors also report on the organization's planned exit from Haiti.

The Economist provides a much-needed overview of the past two years of revolution in Egypt.

Sheri Berman, writing in Foreign Affairs, explains why it's too early to be pessimistic about the Arab Spring.

Human Rights Watch gives the Burmese government a poor grade on reform efforts. The Wall Street Journal reports on the issuing of the first credit cards in Burma.

In an op-ed for The New York Times, Sam Loewenberg explains why social scientists should publicize their failures as well as their successes.

The Times' C. J. Chivers offers a detailed analysis of the battle for Syria's Minakh air base. Jadaliyya presents a thought-provoking interview with Syrian director Nabil Maleh.

Reuters reports on the trial of a Bahraini princess for torturing detainees in prison.

World Politics Review offers an in-depth look at the hawala money-lending system that is helping Iran evade sanctions (paywall).

Democracy Digest explains the controversy surrounding the case of a former Ukrainian police chief accused of murdering journalist Georgy Gongadze. The Ukrainian civic organization "People First" releases the results of a survey on the priorities and problems of Ukrainians.

 

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Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart lay down a road map for rebuilding the Syrian state once the war is over.

Christian Caryl argues that the outcry over Gérard Depardieu's embrace of a Russian passport shows that we still take citizenship seriously.

Juan Nagel predicts that the adherents of ailing President Hugo Chavez will do anything to win an upcoming election, even sabotage the economy.

Mohamed El Dahshan congratulates Tunisia on the second anniversary of the revolution.

Albert Fishlow explains how Argentina's bi-polar economic policies are dragging the country down.

And Endy Bayuni reports on how Twitter is being used to combat misogyny in Indonesia.

And now for this week's recommended reads:

Writing for Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevich presents a skeptical analysis of western democracy promotion efforts in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

Les Roopanarine reports for The Guardian on how aid agencies are using innovative solutions to combat distribution problems.

The Carnegie Endowment offers two intriguing takes on the new French counterterrorism operation in Mali. The photo above shows Turkey's Saadet Party protesting French occupation.

POMED argues that protecting democracy is both right and smart.

Bassem Sabry reveals the ten things Libya should learn from Egypt's constitution.

International Crisis Group assesses the likelihood of recurring violence in Kenya's upcoming March elections.     

Radio Free Europe's Daud Khattak describes the odd contradictions of Pakistan's democracy defender du jour, Tahir ul-Qadri. 

Juan Garrigues reports for Open Democracy on the difficulties faced by Libya as it tries to disarm revolutionary militias.

INEGMA's Daniel Wagner and Giorgio Cafiero examine threats to Jordanian King Abdullah's rule.

 

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Rick Rowden argues that recent accounts of "Africa's rise" are fundamentally flawed.

In his column, Christian Caryl explains why 2012 was a good year for elections, but a bad one for democracy.

Juan Nagel outlines possible scenarios for Venezuela if Hugo Chávez leaves the scene.

Peter Passell sums up some of the recent research in transitional economics.

In the latest of our continuing series of collaborations with Princeton's Innovations for Successful Societies, Deepa Iyer recounts a Brazilian experiment aimed at uprooting corruption. 

Reflecting on the holiday season just past, Endy Bayuni shows how Indonesians are winning the war on Christmas.

And Jackee Batanda rounds out the year 2012 out with stories about extraordinary Ugandans

And here are this week's recommended reads:

Syria Deeply publishes the powerful tale of a young Alawite woman whose pro-revolutionary mother was killed by her pro-regime father -- a vivid example of how the civil war is tearing families apart. Al-Monitor shares the experience of Alawites living under siege.

Democracy Digest provides a useful collection of views from the experts on the directions that might be taken by a post-Chávez Venezuela.

Writing for The Irrawaddy, Gustaaf Houtman offers a vivid take on the recent changes in Burma as the society continues to open up.

Over at The New York Times, Simon Romero presents an unforgettable portrait of Uruguay's ultra-modest president.

A new working paper from the International Monetary Fund analyzes economic transitions in post-conflict nations.

As part of its discussion of Vali Nasr's new book The Dispensable Nation, Democracy Digest wonders whether American democracy promotion will survive relative economic decline.

Rami G. Khouri casts a critical gaze on some of the most frequent analytical assumptions about the Arab Spring.

Sebastian Mallaby, writing for the Council on Foreign Relations, joins the argument over Africa's economic development, insisting that the continent is growing in more ways than one.

 

 

Jakub Wisniewski gives the background to Poland's remarkable economic success story.

In our latest case study published in conjunction with Princeton's Innovations for Successful Societies, Laura Bacon and Rushda Majeed tell the story of a remarkable Sicilian mayor who decided to take back his city from the Mafia.

In this week's column, Christian Caryl explains the lingering scandal behind the story of Alexander Lukashenko, Europe's last dictator. Caryl also reports on the reasons why the U.S. government has decided to withhold its assent to the new UN telecommunications treaty that the Americans accuse of infringing on the freedom of the Internet.

Mohamed El Dahshan reports on the internal Muslim Brotherhood politics that are fueling the current unrest in Egypt. 

Adam Baron analyzes the problems that plague Yemen on the way to a planned national political dialogue.

Corey Brettschneider argues that the U.S. government should actively condemn hate speech as well as protecting the freedom of the word.

Endy Bayuni explores the reasons behind the current surge in union activism in Indonesia -- including the surprising willingness of local governments to support wage hikes.

Juan Nagel mulls over the continuing speculation about a successor to cancer-plagued Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.  

And now for this week's recommended reads:

The Project on Middle East Political Science offers a video conversation on the new Egyptian constitution with expert Nathan Brown.

At Jadailyya.com, Linda Herrera, Magdy Alabady, and Adel Iskandar analyze the political role of Mohamed El-Baradei in Egypt's current political unrest.

Writing for the Jamestown Foundation, Wladimir van Wilgenburg explains why fighting between Kurdish groups and Arab rebels helps Bashar al-Assad.

The website of the pro-democracy group Girifna offers an update on the latest protests in Sudan.

Democracy Digest offers two useful takes on the situation in Venezuela amid renewed reports that President Hugo Chavez is again struggling with cancer. One post speculates on the fate of chavismo without Chavez. The second brings together commentary on the state of the opposition as speculation about the possibility of a post-Chavez Venezuela revs up again.

Anne Applebaum, writing in The Washington Post, posits that corruption is becoming the new galvanizing issue for activists around the world.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty offers a breakdown on a Swedish documentary that tracks corruption linked with Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the dictator of Uzbekistan.

The Monkey Cage features a post in which an array of political scientists weigh in on the function of legislatures in authoritarian regimes:

A new report from the International Crisis Group explains why Muslim insurgents are gaining ground on the government of Thailand in the country's turbulent South.

A new U.N. report details illegal drug trends in Asia and the Pacific.

Cristina Odone profiles Carne Ross, the crusader who's trying to save diplomacy from itself. And Willam Lloyd-George offers a portrait of Shwe Mann, the Burmese politician who's now being wooed by the White House despite his checkered past.

James Kirchick accuses Georgia's recently elected prime minister of threatening to derail the country's fledgling democracy.

Christian Caryl addresses the question of what makes a hero, and argues that Thein Sein, Burma's ex-general president, has what it takes.

Peter Murrell and Chuluunbat Narantuya explain how Mongolia's nomadic culture is helping the country evade the resource curse.

Ellen Bork warns the United States government against rushing prematurely into close cooperation with the Burmese military.

Alex Thurston analyzes the latest violent twist in the saga of Mauritania's troubled transition to democracy.

Endy Bayuni casts a skeptical eye on the human rights declaration recently passed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Jackee Batanda explains Uganda's involvement in the rising rebel movement in Congo -- and what Kampala can do to help end the crisis.

Juan Nagel takes a look at the latest mysterious disappearance of Venezuela's ailing president.

And here are this week's recommended reads:

The Atlantic Council's Egypt Source offers an excellent background on Egypt's constitutional crisis. Particularly useful are Nancy Messieh's close reading of the draft Egyptian constitution and Yussuf Auf's in-depth examination of the role of the Egyptian judiciary. Mohsin Khan provides much-needed coverage of a vital issue that has gone lost amid the political turmoil: The government's new economic plan.

Writing for NowLebanon, Hussein Ibish gives a scathing take on Egyptian President Morsi's efforts to accumulate power.

Thomas Carothers of the Carnegie Endowment makes a plea for reform of the U.S. democracy promotion establishment.

In a remarkable report for National Geographic, Jeff Bartholet tells the personal story behind a Tibetan's decision to set himself on fire as a protest against Chinese rule.

Tunisia Live offers excellent reporting on the continuing clashes between protestors and security forces at Siliana.

The International Crisis Group presents a must-read report on why Sudan desperately needs reforms if it is to avoid a new round of warfare with its own citizens and its neighbors.

Writing for CogitASIA (at the Center for Strategic and International Studies), Phuong Nguyen explains why Burma's important new laws on public assembly remain a work in progress.

Harvard's Calestous Juma shows how tribalism hampers the building of democratic institutions in Africa.

The International Republican Institute offers a useful backgrounder on recent elections in Somaliland. (You can find analyses of the results here and here.)

James A. Robinson explains why Colombia's remarkable degree of political stability is not all that it's cracked up to be.

Malik Al-Abdeh wonders whether the creation of a new umbrella group for the Syrian opposition group will actually help to bring down the Assad regime.

Mohamed El Dahshan argues that the current government ban on pornography in Egypt threatens freedom of expression.

Larry Jagan analyzes the dynamics within the Burmese leadership and explains why fragmentation of the ruling party would be a disaster for the country.

Christian Caryl explores the comparison between two civil war presidents, Bashar al-Assad and Abraham Lincoln.

Besar Likmeta profiles Ina Rama, Albania's first female general prosecutor and valiant hero in the fight against sleaze.

Jackee Batanda reports on the increasing demoralization of a Ugandan public battered by new revelations of corruption in high places.

And here are this week's recommended reads:

Thomas Carothers and and Nathan J. Brown explain the real danger for democracy in Egypt.  

Katrin Verclas and Lina Srivastava wonder why a new list of democracy promotion heavyweights is bereft of women.

In a Guardian interview with Colin Poulton, the SOAS research fellow makes the case that the establishment of democratic institutions in developing countries can be detrimental to the rural poor.

A new RAND report assesses the nation-building challenges in post-Qaddafi Libya.

A new report on Burma from the International Crisis Group, Storm Clouds on the Horizon, shows how continuing sectarian conflict is casting a shadow over the reform process. Writing in The Independent, Emanuel Stoakes stresses the need for President Obama to acknowledge the issue during his upcoming trip to Burma.

In an analysis for the Middle East Research and Information Project, Pete Moore explains why -- despite the recent turmoil there -- Jordan is unlikely to experience its own version of the Arab Spring.

Sarah Kendzior argues that there are good reasons for holding policy forums in authoritarian countries.

Alina Rocha Menocal takes issue with the notion that "building institutions" is the best formula for promoting development.

And finally, Evelyn Lamb, writing in Scientific American, explains the background of the Gini coefficient -- and why it's not like the Kardashians

M. Steven Fish and Katherine E. Michel explain why Tunisia is taking the right approach to establishing democractic institutions.

Anne Applebaum explores the motivations for people to support authoritarian regimes.  

Dalibor Rohac argues that religion isn't necessarily the key to understanding the success of Islamist parties in the MENA region.

Endy Bayuni explains the tensions underlying recent violence among Indonesian migrants.

Peter Passell introduces the Legatum Institute's 2012 Prosperity Index.

Mohamed El Dahshan mourns the recent follies of the Egyptian military.

Jackee Batanda reports on the corruption scandal that has soured Uganda's relations with foreign aid donors.   

And now for this week's recommended reads: 

David Rieff attacks the assumptions behind America's democracy promotion agenda.

The Arabist provides alternate sources of English versions of the new Egyptian draft consitution -- with a bit of arch commentary along the way.

Amrit Dhillon criticizes the Indian government's restrictions on morphine for the poor.

At The Monkey Cage, Joshua Tucker offers a handy overview of Ukraine's parliamentary elections and what they tell us about the Ukraine's continued drift toward authoritarianism.

Writing for The Irrawaddy, Burmese journalist Aung Zaw explains why the resurgence of ethnic conflict in northwestern Burma bodes ill for the next phase of reforms.

At Jadaliyya, Basma Guthrie and Fida Adely explain why the Jordanian government is tightening the screws on the domestic media.

Foreign Policy's own Marc Lynch writes on the burgeoning dissatisfaction in Kuwait.

Writing for OpenDemocracy.net, Paul Rogers argues that western intervention in Mali would be a gift to Al Qaeda.

Democracy Digest offers a useful situation report on the state of democratic institutions in Tunisia.

[The photo above shows Cubans lining up to receive government coal rations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.]