Stories

Gonzales Youth Council members, past and present. Photo by Joe Mathews
GONZALES
COLUMN The Best City Council Never Grows Up
A Small Town's Powerful Youth Council Turns 10—And Opens a $28 Million Center
ANKARA
NEWS: Two Turkish Cities Are Finalists for 'European Capital of Democracy'
Ankara and Denizli Join Brussels and Tirana on Short List
Pallbearers pour dirt into the grave of 19-year-old Shiite Musawir Hussain who was killed in a Nov. 21 attack in Pakistan’s Kurram district that left at least 52, mostly Shiites, dead. (Photo: Muhammad Nawaz)
Pakistan
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES In Kurram District, Lives Lost and Interrupted
A humanitarian crisis in northwest Pakistan reveals a government unwilling or unable to protect its people
Via Facebook page of Chavit Singson
Philippines
PCIJ: How Family Dynaties Control Local, Regional Governments
71 Governors Are Part of Political Dynasties
Photo by Joe Mathews
Global
New Year's Resolution: Give Up Elections to Focus on Democracy
2024's "Year of Elections" damaged democracy. Let's stop devoting so many resources to voting.
Photo credit: by Marc Geretz
USA
COLUMN In Equity, Local Losers Can Be Champions
A high school team lost 9 of its 10 regular season games. Then, under an equity system, it won a championship...
Bangladesh
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES Empty Villages, Crowded Jungles
A small indigenous minority bears the brunt of military operations against armed insurgents.  
Photo credit: Car-free Sunday in central Jakarta, by Joe Mathews
Global
Our First Year. Macondo Forever. Why We're All Batman.
How to Donate. Korea impeachment songs. Small-town mayor-president?
Philippines
LOCAL SNAPSHOTS Nolito M. Quilang, Councilor
The spirit of Dagyaw—and bringing community groups into government in Ormoc City
Photo credit: Muhammad ECTOR Prasetyo, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Indonesia
ASIA DEMOCRACY CHRONICLES: Nickel and Dammed
Nickel-mining on Indonesia's Halmahera Island pose threat to one of the last hunting-gathering tribes
Photo credit: Wikimedia and Pulitzer Prizes, CC BY-SA 4.0
USA
COLUMN A Rap Feud's Lessons for Locals Fighting a Ruling Demagogue
What would Kendrick Lamar do? The California hip hop artist shows how to beat Drake, Trump and other hegemons
Photo credit: Bill Fulton, Future of Where
USA
FUTURE OF WHERE Local Attachments May Leave Behind Nations, States
Increasingly, our connection to people in other places shapes identity.