Donald L. Horowitz, James B. Duke Professor of Law and Political Science Emeritus, Duke University presented his lecture, "Ethnic Power-Sharing and Democracy: Three Big Problems" as the tenth annual The Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture on Democracy in the World.

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Christian Caryl moderated a conversation on how this new authoritarianism works inside Russia, what it means for relationships with the West, and how it affects what Russia’s leadership views as its “near abroad.” The discussion was based on “Russia: A Postmodern Dictatorship?” by Peter Pomerantsev. This was the first in a series of studies commissioned jointly by the Legatum Institute and the Institute of Modern Russia to analyze the challenges of transition in the former Soviet Union.

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The mass uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa represent the most important opportunity for democracy since the fall of Soviet communism. Two-and-a-half years after the onset of the movements against the region’s repressive governments, the extent of the democratic reform challenge has become clearer, raising a host of vexing questions for reformers in these countries and policy makers outside them. During the event, two panels of experts assessed the transition experiences from the post-Soviet world and North Africa, and examined fundamental questions relating to democratic transitions. This event was part of the Reconsidering Democratic Transitions conference series sponsored by the International Forum for Democratic Studies.

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In her presentation Ms. Nadira Eshmatova focused on the challenges facing youth in Kyrgyzstan, as well as on how the country’s ongoing socio-political transition is shaping opportunities for youth activism. She suggested ways in which organizations working with youth can ensure that young people are actively involved in the reconciliation and democracy building processes in Kyrgyzstan. Ms. Eshmatova concluded by suggesting strategies to better engage Kyrgyz and Uzbek youth, especially in the south of Kyrgyzstan. Her presentation was followed by comments from Ms. Maria Lisitsyna.

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In his presentation, Abdulrazaq Alkali provided an overview of the state of youth activism in Nigeria today. He surveyed the steps being taken to; engage youth, identify barriers to their participation, and offer recommendations to increase their involvement in decision-making processes. His presentation was followed by comments by Dave Peterson.

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In his presentation, Frank Rusa Nyakaana explored the opportunities and challenges faced by Ugandan civil society groups in their struggle for political accountability. Mr. Rusa offered his perspectives on the way forward, as well as recommendations for international development practitioners, civil society, and the Ugandan government. His presentation was followed by comments by Eric Robinson.

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In his presentation, Kwami Ahiabenu provided an overview of how new digital technologies, including online platforms, mobile apps, SMS, and social media, are being used to promote democratic governance and economic transparency in ECOWAS member states. He assessed relevant projects, identified gaps in project deployment, and offered recommendations for the effective use of technology to strengthen democratic governance in West Africa. His presentation was followed by comments by Larry Diamond.

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