Iraq Offers Lessons and Warnings for a New Syria
The sudden collapse of the Assad regime marks a momentous opportunity for Syrians to build an inclusive, stable democracy — but it also poses immense challenges, from rebuilding a war-torn society to preventing the rise of a new autocrat. Postwar Iraq offers lessons and cautionary tales for the nascent state.
Proposed Legislation Threatens a Backslide on U.S. Democracy
A “Stop Terror-Financing” bill that has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives has raised red flags for its similarity to “foreign agent” laws — a cornerstone of repression in Putin’s Russia and Orban’s Hungary. But with the incoming Trump administration, the bill has a good chance of becoming law.
The Chaotic Power of Elon Musk’s Foreign Political Interventions
Elon Musk has begun promoting far-right politics beyond the borders of the U.S. A closer look at the recent drama he caused in the U.K. reveals that his interventions may have unpredictable effects.
Tallying Syria’s War Dead
Determining the true scale of lives lost in Syria’s 14-year conflict is essential for accountability and transitional justice. By merging datasets, documenting on the ground and honoring each victim, Syrians and global experts can forge a path toward a new Syria — one built on truth and redress.
How Memories of Struggle Spurred the Defense of South Korea’s Democracy
For many South Koreans, the martial law decree last month was a reminder of previous military coups, and for activists who pushed for reform in the 1980s, it was those painful memories and the resilience they gained from the struggle that led them to risk everything to defend Seoul’s democracy.