All FSI Projects

Program on Evaluating International Influences on Democratic Development

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Researchers

Thomas Risse
Investigator
Research Partner
Free University of Berlin
Michael A. McFaul
Principal Investigator
CDDRL
Tanja Boerzel
Investigator
Research Partner
Free University of Berlin
Desha Girod
Project Manager
CDDRL
Kathryn Stoner-Weiss
Principal Investigator
CDDRL
Christoph Zuercher
Investigator
Research Partner
Free University of Berlin
Larry Diamond
Principal Investigator
CDDRL
Richard Youngs
Investigator
Research Partner
FRIDE, Madrid

Governments devote significant effort and resources to promote democracy outside their borders, but surprisingly little is known about how to bring about a good return on this investment.  The program entitled Evaluating International Influences on Democratic Development aims to fill this void by researching why democracy promotion sometimes works, but often does not.  The program investigates the effects of international programs and the roles played by specific actors.  It also examines how international conditions, such as the Cold War, change the ability of domestic actors to obtain democratization, and conversely, how domestic conditions, such as economic crises, change the prospects for democracy promotion by external actors.

We examine countries that democratize and also countries that fail to do so within four research modules: (1) democracies in transition, (2) changes in the quality of democracy; (3) liberalization in non-democratic regimes, and (4) post-conflict democratization.  As the final product, we will provide a comprehensive evaluation of external influence that will be highly relevant to policy-makers and academic communities in donor and recipient countries.

CDDRL leads the program in cooperation with an international network of partners and with the generous support of the Smith Richardson Foundation.  With this research, CDDRL is constructing a global community of scholars and practitioners contending with the challenges of democracy promotion.

Project Resources

Publications

Urban Ahlin
;
Menur Akgün
;
Gustavo de Aristegui
;
Ronald D. Asmus
;
Daniel Byman
;
Larry Diamond
;
Steven Everts
;
Ralf Fücks
;
Iris Glosemeyer
;
Jana Hybaskova
;
Thorsten Klassen
;
Mark Leonard
;
Michael A. McFaul
;
Thomas O. Melia
;
Michael Mertes
;
Joshua Muravchik
;
Kenneth M. Pollack
;
Karen Volker
;
Jennifer Windsor
Michael A. McFaul
;
Francis Fukuyama
Michael A. McFaul
Committee on Evaluation of USAID Democracy Assistance Programs
;
Jeremy M. Weinstein
Michael A. McFaul
;
Kathryn Stoner
;
Valerie Bunce

Events