Today, authoritarian governments are willfully depriving hundreds of millions of people of authentically plural and independent information and analysis, with profound implications for these countries’ ability to reform and prosper. The event, which featured experts on China, Russia, and Iran, was organized around the ideas in the January 2014 Journal of Democracy article, “Breaking the News: The Role of State-Run Media,” written by panelists Christopher Walker and Robert Orttung.

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Fragile states around the world demand international attention from both the diplomatic and development communities. They are states where governance tends to be weakest and development is most difficult to achieve. Media is often most vulnerable to cooption in these states. This discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities for media development in fragile states using Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Somalia as case studies.

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Based on the true story of Franak Viachorka and Belarusian youth activists, the film Viva Belarus! depicts the life and fate of nonconformist youth living in “Europe’s last dictatorship.” The film was followed by a panel discussion on the role of youth in pushing for positive change in Belarus, lead by experts in the field.

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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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