October 2006

Volume 17, Issue 4

A "Left Turn" in Latin America?

History Repeats Itself in Pakistan

If there is a common thread through Pakistan's checkered history, it is the army's perception of itself as the country's only viable institution. As the next parliamentary elections approach, what does the future hold for democratic hopes in Pakistan?

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Constitutional Courts: A Primer for Decision Makers

Courts empowered to overturn legislative acts have spread rapidly in recent years. If carefully designed and limited, constitutional courts may aid democratic consolidation, but if not, they can become objects of political strife, impediments to democracy, and bad influences on legal development.

Belarus: Learning From Defeat

The Belarusian presidential election of March 2006 appeared to be an exercise in meaninglessness, while the protests against manipulation by the Lukashenka regime seemed a study in futility. But appearances can deceive.

Governance and Development

Embedding a vibrant market economy into strong democratic political institutions is the best way to ensure that political and economic empowerment play complementary roles improving the lives of citizens around the world.

Exchange

Election Watch

A review of recent elections in Congo (Kinshasa), Dominican Republic, Gambia, Guyana, Kuwait, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Sao Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Slovakia, Yemen, and Zambia.

Documents on Democracy

Excerpts from: a letter from jailed Egyptian politician Ayman Nour; Timorese leader José Ramos Horta’s acceptance speech; the inaugural address of Chilean president Michele Bachelet; a summit declaration entitled “Promoting Peace, Human Rights and Democracy Worldwide.