A guide to the issues behind the Palestinian parliamentary elections with background analysis and expert interviews from cfr.org.

Palestinians turn out in large numbers for critical legislative elections, amid signs the militant organization Hamas will poll strongly against the ruling Fatah party.

Stephen Harper's Conservative Party has dethroned Canada's Liberal Party after thirteen years at the helm in Ottawa. But it won't be an easy ride for Prime Minister Harper, who didn't win enough votes for a majority in parliament. Harper will face a divided House of Commons as he pushes through his promised reforms—including improved Canadian-U.S. relations.

Official results indicate Shiite parties dominated the December 15 parliamentary election, though they fell short of an absolute majority. Experts say the stage is now set for a coalition government in which Kurdish politicians will hold the balance of power.

Chileans will be led for the first time by a woman, socialist Michelle Bachelet after a presidential runoff Sunday confirmed she is the electorate's choice.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel, with U.S. prodding, will allow East Jerusalem's Palestinians to vote in a January 25 parliamentary poll. The PA had warned the election would be postponed if Israel followed through on its threat to ban the vote in East Jerusalem because of the participation of Palestinian militant group Hamas.

On the upcoming South Korean presidential election, Scott A. Snyder says the determining vote will be "South Korea's bulging forties cohort" that played a critical role in South Korea's transition from authoritiarianism to democracy and also has the greatest stake in its economic stability.

Isobel Coleman writes about the mixed record that quotas for women's political participation in the Middle East have had, but notes that at least quotas ensure that women's perspectives are represented in government.

Joshua Kurlantzick says that even though its by-elections were relatively free and fair, Burma remains a long way from a truly democratic culture of elections.

John Campbell and Asch Harwood discuss the challenges facing Nigeria's newly elected president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Joshua Kurlantzick discusses democracy and elections in Burma.

John Campbell discusses the death of Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua and its implications for Nigerian politics.

Fawzia Koofi, Afghan Member of Parliament, women's rights activist, and presidential candidate, speaks about what to expect for Afghanistan after U.S. troops withdraw in 2014.

Ed Husain leads a wide-ranging discussion with AbdulMawgoud Dardery of the political challenges facing Egypt and the Freedom and Justice Party's vision for the country's future.

Listen to CFR senior fellows Isobel Coleman and Steven A. Cook as they Egypt's future.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won Russia's presidential election on March 5, 2012 with almost 64 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. Charging violations at the polls, protestors rallied in downtown Moscow. Listen to CFR senior fellows Charles Kupchan and Stephen Sestanovich discuss the outcome of the elections, Russia's future, and U.S.-Russia relations.

Leon Aron, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., and Stephen Sestanovich assess recent demonstrations of public discontent in the Russian streets and discuss the future of the country, its leaders, and U.S.-Russia relations.

Stephen Sestanovich, CFR's George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies, discusses Russia's upcoming election and its outcomes.

Egyptians headed to the polls Monday in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak amid deepening divisions in society and concern about the nation's direction. Join CFR senior fellow Ed Husain, who is currently in Cairo, for an analysis of the elections and the path ahead. Also, follow Husain on Twitter: @Ed_Husain.

CFR's John Campbell discusses the upcoming elections in Nigeria, as well as policy recommendations from his book "Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink," as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.