Development

International cooperation on transparency and a coordinated effort to target secretive tax havens and offshore financial arrangements tied to illegal activities were among the issues discussed at the summit.

Despite economic turmoil and challenged political credibility of Russia on the world stage, the Panama Papers revelations will not pose a significant threat to the stability of Putin’s regime but will worsen Russia-U.S. relations and the country’s image in the West.

One of the most basic forms of democratic engagement besides voting comes from mass peaceful protests. Indeed, it is difficult to ignore millions of people demanding the end of your political career.

In the past, scholars tended to believe that the internet was an effective tool to challenge authoritarian regimes and facilitate the development of civil society. However, as an expert that has been investigating the issue for a number of years, I disagree with this widely held belief.

The FIFA World Cup highlighted the rift between internationally oriented elites and average Brazilians.

Old tricks die hard in the European Union’s “rogue state,” but the West must acknowledge its hand in fueling the political culture in Hungary.

As unrest in Syria slid into a civil war, Stephen and CARA were at the forefront of attempts to help Syrian intellectuals escape the violence so they could one day return to rebuild their country.

When every conflict is taken in terms of good vs. evil, no progress can be made and corruption becomes more of a nuance than a lack of accountability.

When oppositions win by significant margin, the tendency is for sweeping changes. The previous regime’s leaders are investigated, arrested and prosecuted for corruption. Policies are thrown out the window and new constitutions are drafted. Myanmar has taken a different path.

Romania’s fight against corruption is showing encouraging signs of progress, but the bitter medicine of reform marks a traumatic period for the country.

If there is no single truth, lies can become powerful tools in an election.

The European Union must do more to tackle endemic corruption and the lack of media pluralism in central and eastern Europe.