Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law is housed in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
The Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University is an interdisciplinary center for research on development in all of its dimensions: political, economic, social, and legal, and the ways in which these different dimensions interact with one another. We seek to understand how countries can overcome poverty, instability, and abusive rule to become prosperous, just, democratic, and well-governed societies. We also want to analyze the ways in which democracy and development can be threatened by the authoritarian resurgence, technology, populism, and the broader process of globalization.
What We Do
Research
The Center's research agenda is comprised of programs that explore some of the most intractable problems and most exciting innovations in the study of development and democracy.
Education
We welcome undergrad and graduate students, as well as post-docs in two major programs: the Fisher Family Undergraduate Honors Program and Pre- and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.
Training
Our practitioner-based training programs engage emerging civic leaders and social entrepreneurs who are working to achieve or deepen democracy and social justice in some of the most challenging environments around the world.
News & Events
News
Honors Students to Meet with Top-Level Policy Makers in Washington, D.C.
September 14, 2022
Russian History Expert Stephen Kotkin Appointed FSI Senior Fellow
September 12, 2022
Political Scientist Margaret Levi Joins CDDRL
September 8, 2022
Reflections on Mikhail Gorbachev's Life from FSI Scholars
September 2, 2022
Local Democracy in Action: Stories from the Field
August 31, 2022
Events
Tue
Sep
27
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Struggles for Political Change in the Arab World
Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.
Tue
Oct
4
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
The Representation Trap: How and Why Muslims Struggle to Maintain Power in India
Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.
Tue
Oct
11
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Automated Repression
Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.
Thu
Oct
13
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
REDS Seminar: European Security: Past, Present, Future
William J. Perry Conference Room, Encina Hall, Second Floor, Central
Spotlight
Robert G. Wesson Lecture: Facing Autocracy, a Global Challenge
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: What it Means and Why You Should Care
The January 6th Capitol Riots
Books and Publications by Our Faculty
Liberalism and Its Discontents
Francis Fukuyama
System Error
Rob Reich, Mehran Sahami, and Jeremy M. Weinstein
Russia Resurrected
Kathryn Stoner
How to Make Love to a Despot
Stephen D. Krasner
Ill Winds
Larry Diamond
Clientelism, Capitalism, and Democracy
Didi Kuo
State of Repression
Lisa Blaydes
Political Logic of Poverty Relief
Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, Beatriz Magaloni, and Federico Estévez
Explore More
Democracy IRL Podcast
Listen on Spotify or iTunes
Newsletter
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