TABLE OF CONTENTS

On Democratic Backsliding
Nancy Bermeo
Old-fashioned military coups and blatant election-day fraud are becoming mercifully rarer these day, but other, subtler forms of democratic regression are a growing problem that demands more attention.

What's Wrong with East-Central Europe?
I. The Fading Mirage of the "Liberal Consensus"
James Dawson and Sean Hanley
Across East-Central Europe, the political center ground has long been characterized by the uneasy cohabitation of liberal and illiberal norms, but the latter have been gradually overpowering the former.

II. Liberalism's Failure to Deliver
Ivan Krastev
Is democracy in East-Central Europe suffering because of lack of liberal zeal among elites, as Dawson and Hanley contend, or is it because liberal policies have failed to deliver on their promises?

China and the "Singapore Model"
Stephan Ortmann and Mark R. Thompson
China's government looks to Singapore, the only country in the region modernize without liberalizing, in hopes of finding the key to combining authoritarian rule with economic progress and "good governance."

The Authoritarian Threat
I. The Hijacking of "Soft Power"
Christopher Walker
Although the leading authoritarian regimes are today integrated in many ways into the global system, they have not become more like the democracies; instead, they have been devising policies and practices aimed at blocking democracy's advance.

II. Weaknesses of Autocracy Promotion
Lucan Way
While "autocracy promotion" presents a real danger, its influence so far has been limited. Because authoritarian regimes are concerned first with furthering their own interests, their interventions often have contradictory effect, sometimes even inadvertently fostering greater pluralism.

Ethiopia
I. The 100% Election
Leonardo R. Arriola and Terrence Lyons
The ruling EPRDF and its allies won every single seat in parliament in Ethiopia's May 2015 elections, signaling a hardening of the regime's authoritarian rule.

II. Silencing Dissent
Simegnish Yekoye Mangesha
Ethiopia's ruling party has long been tightening its grip, using antiterorism laws and harsh restrictions on media and civil society to silence voices critical of the regime.

The Quest for Good Governance
I. Learning from Virtuous Circles
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi
Are the "virtuous circles" crucial to good governance always the product of long-term developments under unique historical circumstances, or can they be started or accelerated by wise policies?

II. Georgia's Break with the Past
Alexander Kupatadze
Much can be done to uproot graft when a major event such as the Rose Revolution sweeps in the determined new team on a wave of massive public support.

III. Taiwan's Fight Against Corruption
Christian Goebel
Bold leadership from people in key posts can effectively promote public integrity, but they must be ready to accept tenures that are stormy and short.

IV. Uruguay's Shift from Clientelism
Daniel Buquet and Rafael Pineiro
A change in the shape of partisan competition, and the traditional parties' ability to adapt to it, has led to the decline of once-pervasive clientelism.

A Win for Democracy in Sri Lanka
Neil DeVotta
The surprising electoral defeat of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2015 was reinforced by his failed comeback in August parliamentary elections.

BOOK IN REVIEW

Transition Leaders Speak
Alfred Stepan
A review of Democratic Transitions: Conversations with World Leaders, edited by Sergio Bitar and Abraham F. Lowenthal.