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
Community Policing: A Better Way to Improve Policing or a Bust?
November 30, 2021
Egypt Scholar Reexamines 2011 Uprising in New Book
November 11, 2021
Together For Our Planet: Americans are More Aligned on Taking Action on Climate Change than Expected
November 3, 2021
Tunisian Activists Examine the Threat of Authoritarian Resurgence
November 1, 2021
Events
Wed
Dec
8
11:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Democracy in Ukraine Thirty Years After the Soviet Collapse
Hybrid event: Online via Zoom, and in-person in Bechtel Conference Center
Tue
Jan
11
Fri
Jan
21
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Fisher Family CDDRL Honors Program Information Session AY 22-23
Encina Ground Floor Conference Room E008, Encina Hall, Ground Floor, East Wing
Spotlight
Books and Publications by Our Faculty
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
Identity
Francis Fukuyama
State of Repression
Lisa Blaydes
Political Logic of Poverty Relief
Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, Beatriz Magaloni, and Federico Estévez
