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
Events
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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