Stories

Member Story
Shadows of the Past: How Soviet Inferiority Narratives Hinder Democracy in Moldova and Ukraine
Post-Soviet countries like Ukraine and Moldova are deeply influenced by inferiority narratives — pervasive beliefs of national inadequacy rooted in Soviet-era legacies. This article examines how these narratives shape...
IDC Theme of the Month
From Backsliding to Breakthrough: Civil Society as Democracy's Last Line of Defence
Democracy does not vanish overnight; instead, it erodes step by step. Authoritarianism grows in the cracks, but so does civic resistance. Around the world, civil society is proving that when democratic institutions weaken,...
Laos
Uncivil Suppression
Laotian civil society must navigate local authorities and self-censorship.
Nepal
Songs for Saving
Banking on music to fight the illegal wildlife trade
United Kingdom
COLUMN: How the UK Lost Its Cities
Birmingham was once the world's best governed city. Now it's insolvent.
Suppressing a City Song
'Glory to Hong Kong' Is Banned in Hong Kong
Honduras
Chasing Utopia, Startup Style
A group of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures are building startup societies that they believe will set...
United Kingdom
Our Lost 'Civic Gospel'
The U.K.'s national elections obscure a local crisis.  
Global
Better Than Cease Fire Statements?
Prospera island, Britain's insolvent local democracy, Sarajevo-Barcelona, Citizen Assembly heresies, a Lima...
Global
Lecciones del Distrito 11 de Barcelona
En la guerra, Barcelona hizo del asediado Sarajevo su 11º distrito. Un modelo de colaboración de ayuda...
Global
Lekcije iz Barcelonskog 11. distrikta
U ratu je Barcelona učinila opsjednuto Sarajevo svojim 11. distriktom. Model partnerske pomoći opstaje
Global
Lliçons del Districte 11 de Barcelona
En guerra, Barcelona va fer de Sarajevo, assetjada, el seu 11è districte. Un model de col·laboració d’ajuda...