Publications

Expert Comments available here.

Datesort descending Title
May 23 2013
Malaysia

On May 5th Malaysia held its thirteenth legislative elections since the country's independence. Simultaneously, twelve of the thirteen regional parliaments were renewed. 

May 27 2013
Pakistan

The May 11 elections were contradictory: the results were both predictable and unpredictable. Nawaz Sharif and his Muslim League (PML-N) had been projected to win - although only around 70 seats - which might have forced them into a coalition government. Imran Khan's party, the Justice Movement (Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf, PTI) had been bandied about as a viable coalition partner, given that both parties place themselves on the conservative right.

Jun 22 2013
Iran

Successive presidential elections with surprising and unexpected results (1997, 2005 and 2009) have now made clear to academics, journalists and governments that it is impossible to predict Iranian election results. None of the analysis prior to the June 14 elections took into account the possibility that the hojatoleslam and doctor1, Hassan Feridon - better known as Rouhani - would win outright in the first round.

Jul 11 2013
Pakistan

These elections were a historic occasion for Pakistan's democracy. For the first time ever, a civilian government had completed a full legislative period and relinquished power peacefully. Moreover, an interim government had for the first time been formed, while the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP) had been strengthened by improvements put in place by an ever more institutionalised parliamentary system. Since the previous elections, headway had been made in strengthening democracy and taking power away from the military.

Jul 21 2013
Malaysia

These elections were keenly anticipated by the Malaysian public due to a generalised disaffection with the Barisan Nasional government headed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The prime minister was faced with a growing, widespread rejection of his government  by the Chinese community as well as sectors of the ethnic Malay community, due to cases of corruption and abuse of power, policies of racial discrimination in favour of the Malay majority, and its handling of the economy. All of these factors brought about a rise in ethnic and religious tensions during his term in office.

Dec 20 2013
Albania
Politics throughout Albania's most recent parliamentary term (2009-2013) was marred by discord between the ruling and opposition parties Indeed, constant blocking of the Democratic Party's decisions by the Socialist Party thwarted its ability to legislate. The Socialists' accusations of electoral fraud and the illegitimacy of the ruling party were kept up following the 2009 elections. Political tension increased, reaching a peak in 2011 following local elections in which Edi Rama, the leader of the Socialist Party, was deprived of the mayoralty of Tirana.
 
Jan 28 2016
Iran

On February 26th the first round of the 10th legislative elections to designate the 290 members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami), which is convened every four years, will take place.

Mar 03 2016
Iran

Although 70 out of 290 seats of the Islamic Consultative Assembly are yet to decide, and the definitive data of the first round have still not been ratified by the Guardian Council, some conclusions may be reached about who has won and lost in these double elections, which also included the election of the 88 cleric members of the Assembly of Experts, a collegiate body which has the important attribution of choosing, confirming annually, and even relieve the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Aug 15 2018
Israel

In 1948, Israel tried to convince the world a western-like democracy had been born in the Middle East due to a decision approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Seventy years later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its partners in Government are not ashamed to tell the world they want their Israel to be something different. 

Apr 01 2019
Israel

Israel is holding elections on April 9th, and it seems nothing will change. Although polls predict Likud’s defeat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will very likely lead again the next Government. 

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