civil society
154 Articles

Time for a Course Correction on Counterterrorism and Civic Space
A defining feature of the U.N. counterterrorism eco-system is its lack of openness to outside expertise and civil society voices.

Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: A Northern View
A civil society leader from Myanmar's volatile northeast border reflects on the unthinkable challenges in her work since the coup - and the hidden blessings of life in a "conflict…

High-Level US Attention Needed for a Backsliding Democracy in Central Asia
Voters in Kyrgyzstan approved a referendum on April 11 that expands the president’s powers and threatens the most vibrant civil society in the region.

Corruption Is a National Security Threat. The CROOK Act Is a Smart Way to Fight It.
A surcharge on entities liable under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could advance good governance abroad and help create a more stable world.

The Fight Against Kleptocracy Should Look Beyond the West
Efforts that help constrain the enabling environment for corruption in the West do not sufficiently tackle how foreign authoritarian actors turbocharge kleptocracy and the role…

Put Yemen’s Civil Society – and Accountability — at the Center of the Push for Peace
Restoring US leadership and values on Yemen requires more than to stop selling bombs to the Saudis. Yemenis need the chance to confront impunity.

How Domestic Civic Movements Could Reshape US Foreign Policy
Nonviolent and inclusive, they can provide the energy, dynamism, and power-shifting ability needed to address the world’s interconnected crises.

Biden Needs a Foreign Policy Focused on Sustainable Peace
War and weapons cannot solve today’s most urgent challenges. They require peacebuilding, diplomacy, and conflict-sensitive development.

Give Local Civil Society a Say in U.S. Security Assistance
Certain guidelines can help in navigating the challenges of creating a more prominent and consistent role for those who stand to gain or lose most.

New Aid for Israeli-Palestinian Peacebuilding Aims at Issues Underlying Security
The Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act provides an unprecedented $250 million over five years for economic and people-to-people projects.

Unprecedented Threats to Journalists & Civil Society Activists Are Threatening Afghanistan
Who benefits from the killing of journalists, human rights activists, and civil society members in Afghanistan? What purposes could it serve and for whom?

On Biden’s Planned Summit: Humility, Not Hubris, Can Save Democracy
The voices of those who have suffered most from democracy’s ills are crucial to understanding – and addressing -- the impact of backsliding laws, policies, and institutions…