Citing recent attempts to amend presidential term limits in Burkina Faso, CDDRL pre-doctoral fellow Ken Opalo provides insights on why leadership turnover is essential for democratic growth and political stability in Africa. Published in The Washington Post, Opalo underscores the rising challenge Africa faces as leaders seek out new and creative methods to stay in power. 

Is democracy heading toward a depression? CDDRL Director Larry Diamond answers in a recent Foreign Policy piece, assessing the challenges of overcoming a global, decade-long democratic recession. With much of the world losing faith in the model of liberal democracy, Diamond believes the key to setting democracy back on track involves heavy reform in America, serious crackdowns on corruption, and a reassessment of how the West approaches its support for democratic development abroad. 

On October 17-18, the Taiwan Democracy Project at CDDRL, with the generous support of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office, will host its annual conference at Stanford University to examine the politics of polarization in Taiwan. The conference will focus on a variety of topics, including the recent Trade in Services Agreement with China that triggered this past year’s protests, an overview of the politics of trade liberalization in Taiwan, prospects for Taiwan’s integration into the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other regional trade agreements, and a consideration of the implications for Taiwan’s long-term democratic future.

For registration and a conference agenda, please visit the event site.