Stanford CDDRL

In the July issue of @jodemocracy.bsky.social, @makrevis.bsky.social and co-authors explain how Turkey’s democratic future hinges on opposition parties winning local elections in unfair conditions.

Read now: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

What are the implications of Iran's recent war with Israel for Iranian society and their prospects for a democratic future? Abbas Milani of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social assesses what may lay ahead for the Islamic regime and the Iranian people now that a ceasefire is in place.

Political Scientist Claire Adida to Become FSI’s Newest Senior Fellow Professor Adida uses quantitative and field methods to study how countries manage new and existing forms of diversity

Today, we're thrilled to welcome political scientist @claireadida.bsky.social to CDDRL as a Senior Fellow @fsi.stanford.edu! Professor Adida uses quantitative & field methods to study how countries manage new & existing forms of diversity. We look forward to supporting her outstanding scholarship.

Announcing the 20th Anniversary Cohort of the Fisher Family Summer Fellows In July 2025, the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law will welcome a diverse cohort of 30 experienced practitioners from 19 countries who are working to advance democratic practices a...

Announcing the 20th Anniversary cohort of the Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program!⁠ The Class of 2025 is a diverse cohort of 30 experienced practitioners from 19 countries who are working to advance democratic practices and enact economic & legal reform to promote change in their communities:

Journalist Describes Surviving October 7 Hamas Attack and Analyzes Journalist Amir Tibon shared his family’s story of survival, betrayal, and hope for peace with a Stanford audience, while also offering insights on contemporary Israeli politics

At this year's Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture, Amir Tibon joined Larry Diamond of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social to share his family’s story of survival, betrayal, and hope for peace, and offered his insights on contemporary Israeli politics.

Much of the ‘racial reckoning’ efforts after Floyd’s murder never emerged Hours into his second term, President Donald Trump started a campaign to dismantle DEI efforts, including those launched in response to George Floyd’s death.

Five years since the killing of George Floyd, @hakeemjefferson.bsky.social of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social reflects on what has changed and what remains the same in the public discourse about race in America.

For those who did not make it to my book talk on April 1st, I will be doing it again tomorrow at the Stanford's CDDRL @ noon Pacific Time.
Stanford people - see you in person; everyone else can join via Zoom. @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social

cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/events/socia...

Persisting in Hard Times Persisting in Hard Times

Persisting in Hard Times
🗓️ June 3 | 🕒 3–4:30PM | 📍Stanford (Psych 420-041)

Featuring:
– Alison Kamhi (immigration lawyer)
– Antonio López (poet & public servant)
– DeCarol Davis (workers’ rights advocate)
– Pam Karlan (constitutional law scholar)

🔗 Register: cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/events/persi...

Roundtable | Governance in the Arab World: New Research Agendas

For any Stanford folks - @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social is hosting a talk tomorrow at 2 pm on governance challenges in the Middle East and related emerging research. I’ll be participating, along with several other friends and colleagues - join if you can!

cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/events/round...

Stanford University to Host Landmark Conference on Urban Climate The two-day conference, “Climate Resilience and Local Governmental Policy: Lessons from Los Angeles and Tel Aviv,” will take place May 29-30, and is hosted by the Visiting Fellows in Israel Studies pr...

On May 29-30, CDDRL's Visiting Fellows in Israel Studies program will convene the largest academic conference ever held on Israel’s climate policy. At the two-day event, experts from Los Angeles and Tel Aviv will explore how local institutions are responding to climate challenges.

Climate Resilience and Local Governmental Policy: Lessons from Los Angeles

How can local governments balance equity, diversity, and sustainability in climate policy?

Join researchers & policymakers at Stanford for a two-day conference, May 29–30, to explore lessons from Los Angeles and Tel Aviv.

LEARN MORE:

YouTube video by Frankly Fukuyama Is Trump selling out Ukraine? A conversation with Rose Gottemoeller

It was always clear that Ukraine would never accept a former surrender of sovereignty over Crimea, yet the Trump administration has backed this Russian demand. See my discussion of this with Rose Gottemoeller:
youtu.be/4MKKRZ_DfEY

YouTube video by America at a Crossroads Ambassador (Fmr) Michael McFaul and Larry Diamond | America at a Crossroads

Really enjoyed this conversation with Larry Diamond about America's place in the world in the Trump era. Listen in!

Ambassador (Fmr) Michael McFaul and Larry Diamond | America at a Crossroads youtu.be/Qq68APd35HU?... via @YouTube

Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture Featuring Amir Tibon May 12, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, Stanford University

The Visiting Fellows in Israel Studies program at CDDRL is pleased to welcome award-winning journalist and author Amir Tibon to present the 2025 Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture.

🗓️ Monday, May 12
🕓 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 Stanford University

Register now ⤵️

The Power of Long-View Leadership: A Conversation with Juan Manuel Santos

In an era of growing uncertainty, the need for visionary leadership has never been greater.

Join us on May 1 for a conversation with Juan Manuel Santos, Nobel Prize laureate and former President of Colombia, on long-view leadership and global peacebuilding.

🗓️ May 1 | 📍 CEMEX Auditorium

Do U.S. sanctions help—or harm—democracy in Cuba & Venezuela?

On May 3, the Cuba Observatory @ the Stanford Center for Latin American Studies will convene scholars challenging conventional wisdom on the economic & political toll of U.S. foreign policy.

LEARN MORE: clas.stanford.edu/news/evaluat...

Larry Diamond on the Importance of US Foreign Aid “Ending aid is not a strategy to make America great again. It’s a strategy to make America resented and isolated in the world.”

Speaking with the @thediplomat.com, Larry Diamond of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social explains the broader purposes of U.S.-provided foreign aid and how they work to further America's interests.

📅 APRIL 3, 12:00 - 1:15 PM PT

Join us tomorrow for a research seminar with @frankfukuyama.bsky.social, who will explain that for a government to function effectively, it must grant bureaucrats adequate authority, something the US has failed to do.

INFO: cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/events/burea...

Netanyahu's Wars of Dismantlement Israel’s prime minister is using Gaza as an excuse to dismantle the remaining checks on his power.

Israel’s prime minister is using Gaza as an excuse to dismantle the remaining checks on his power, argues Visiting Fellow in Israel Studies @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social Amichai Magen.

People are fed up with political parties and that's a big problem, says @didikuo1.bsky.social of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social. She joins @mcfaulmike.bsky.social on #WorldClassPodcast to discuss why we need well-functioning parties and how we got the system we have today. ow.ly/eNm650VitwZ

📢 Today marks 100 days since the arbitrary detention of Jesús Armas, one of our 2022 Summer Fellows, who remains in isolation at El Helicoide. His case underscores the ongoing human rights crisis in Venezuela. We call for his immediate release. #FreeJesúsArmas #LibertadParaTodosLosPresosPolíticos

New Continuing Studies Course with CDDRL Scholars on Geopolitics in the Open for enrollment now through Stanford Continuing Studies, "Geopolitics in the 21st-Century Middle East: Insights from Stanford Scholars and Other Experts" will run online for ten weeks on Wednesday...

Enroll in a course with FSI scholars @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social and other experts through Stanford Continuing Studies. "Geopolitics in the 21st-Century Middle East," will run online for ten weeks on Wednesdays, April 2 -June 4.

CDDRL Scholars Explore Impacts of Executive Orders and Policy Changes on In a new video series, Francis Fukuyama and Larry Diamond discuss how democracy-promoting programs are being eroded under the new administration.

In a new video series, @frankfukuyama.bsky.social and @larrydiamond.bsky.social examine how democracy-promotion programs are being systematically weakened under the new administration, highlighting growing threats to global democratic institutions and U.S. leadership in defending them.

Through War and Loss, Ukrainians Hold Onto Hope FSI scholars and civic and political Ukrainian leaders discussed the impact of the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we were honored to host CDDRL alums Oleksiy Honcharuk, Serhiy Leshchenko, @avalaina.bsky.social & Oleksandra Ustinova. They spoke of resilience, loss, and the fight that continues every day. cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/news/through...

Oleksandra Matviichuk, Oleksiy Honcharuk, Serhiy Leshchenko, and Oleksandra Ustinova joined moderator Michael McFaul via Zoom for the event "Three Years of War: Updates from Ukraine" in front of a live audience.

On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of #Ukraine, we were grateful that some of our Ukrainian alumni could join us and @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social to discuss the future of their country with FSI director @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.

🇺🇦Join us today at 12pm PT for a livestream w/ Oleksiy Honcharuk, Serhiy Leshchenko, @avalaina.bsky.social, Oleksandra Ustinova, @mcfaulmike.bsky.social & Kathryn Stoner to commemorate Ukraine's resilience during the 3rd year of Russia's full-scale invasion.

🎦WATCH: stanford.zoom.us/j/9594809997...

Three Years of War: Updates from Ukraine Feb. 24 | A panel discussion with civic and political leaders in Ukraine

🇺🇦Monday, CDDRL alums Oleksiy Honcharuk, Serhiy Leshchenko, Oleksandra Matviichuk & Oleksandra Ustinova will participate in a panel on Ukraine's resiliency & resolve moderated by Michael McFaul w/ opening remarks from Kathryn Stoner.

Access the Zoom or register to join in person:

Meet Our Researchers: Dr. Saumitra Jha Exploring the unifying potential of economics against intolerance, polarization, and violence with Associate Professor of Political Economy Saumitra Jha.

In the second installment of our "Meet Our Researchers" series, @saumjha.bsky.social discusses his research on how economic incentives can foster trust, reduce conflict, and strengthen political stability.

Read the Q&A now:

Book Launch | The Great Retreat, by Didi Kuo Stanford University

📅 Tomorrow, we're thrilled to host the launch event for @didikuo1.bsky.social 's new book, "The Great Retreat: How Political Parties Should Behave and Why They Don't."

Join us in-person or online at 4:00 pm PT — click below to register!

The Crisis of Democracy Is Here And it’s going to get a lot worse.

In his new column for Persuasion, @larrydiamond.bsky.social argues the following:

1️⃣ The crisis of American democracy is now squarely upon us
2️⃣ It's going to get a lot worse
3️⃣ Democratic backsliding is moving quickly now in part because of the lack of resistance

FULL ESSAY: