Venezuela's National Assembly elections this weekend are a referendum on President Hugo Chávez and a "proxy" for the 2012 presidential elections, says expert Michael McCarthy. They could also bolster opposition movements in countries like Bolivia and Ecuador.

Speaker: Moses Wetang'ula, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Kenya, Madeleine K. Albright, Chair, Albright Stonebridge Group; Former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State

This Contingency Planning Memorandum describes the events and trends that indicate Nigerian elections are following a violent trajectory and recommends U.S. policy options for preventing and containing fragmentation of Nigerian society.

Joel Hirst discusses Venezuela's upcoming National Assembly election.

John Campbell discusses the risks of the upcoming Nigerian national elections.

Joshua Kurlantzick discusses democracy and elections in Burma.

Mohamad Bazzi says that the United States has lost leverage in being able to force Iraqi leaders to end their current political stalemate.

Iraq's two leading parties will probably not pull together a coalition government until September, says Iraq expert Reidar Visser, and Washington has failed to push along the political process.

Mohamad Bazzi argues that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is positioning himself as "kingmaker" in Iraq.

Adam Thomson follows Mexico's downward spiral, from the factors that belied its promising outlook a decade ago to the potential of a recovery through its upcoming elections.

Filmmakers and experts discuss the HBO documentary For Neda, which illuminates the larger story of political struggle in Iran by focusing on the life of Neda Agha-Soltan, the woman whose death during last year’s protests drew international attention.

Filmmakers and experts discuss the HBO documentary For Neda, which illuminates the larger story of political struggle in Iran by focusing on the life of Neda Agha-Soltan, the woman whose death during last year's protests drew international attention.

This new documentary illuminates the larger story of political struggle in Iran by focusing on the life of Neda Agha-Soltan, the woman whose death during last year's protests drew international attention. Following the screening please join Haleh Esfandiari and Antony Thomas for a conversation focusing on the film and its broader implications.

Sheila Smith discusses implications of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's resignation on June 2.

Listen to CFR Senior Fellow Sheila Smith discuss the implications of implications of the surprise collapse of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's government.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says her country and region continue to make democratic strides, but she appealed for greater foreign investment to build economic and political capacity.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf discusses her country's peace, development, and relations with the United States.