In this Op-Ed piece, Danielle Pletka and Ali Alfoneh characterize Iran's latest elections as the final step in a military coup d'état.

The Iranian government's response to public uproar over the presidential polls is raising questions about its power base and stability. Experts say the turmoil poses tricky questions for U.S. policymakers hoping to engage Iran's government.

Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett write that dismissing Ahmadinejad's reelection as fraud ignores several salient facts, and point out evidence supporting the assertion that the election results are legitimate.

Gary G. Sick, an expert on Iranian affairs, says the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad amounted to an internal coup. The prospect of U.S. talks with Iran is now "infinitely more complicated," he says.

Karim Sadjadpour offers an analysis of the 2009 Iran presidential election in the context of recent U.S. presidential elections, "however incongruous the comparison."

Expert Mohsen Milani says Iran's June 12 presidential elections are likely to be consequential for Iranian policy. Presidents are subordinate to the Supreme Leader, but still wield considerable power, he says.

Iran's Supreme Leader remains the regime's ultimate authority but controversy surrounding the country's June 12 presidential election has raised new questions about the role and power of the head of state.

Leslie H. Gelb discusses the surge of reformers ahead of the Iranian elections.

Bolstered by the active campaigning of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's wife, Zhara Rahnavard, "women's issues [in Iran] are on the agenda as they've never been before."

Following the Lebanon's parliamentary elections, CFR's Mohamad Bazzi says a crucial question for the new government is whether it can operate without allowing Hezbollah and its allies to retain their veto power in the cabinet.

A pro-Western coalition appears to have defeated Hezbollah in Lebanon's parliamentary vote, but analysts say the group will likely continue to be a power broker in Lebanese politics.

Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections, pitting pro-Western political elements against a coalition led by Hezbollah, will test the country's ability to manage political change among many factions.

In this New York Times Op-Ed Tzipi Livni, a former vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Israel, writes about Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections and comments that voting alone does not constitute democracy, but rather the values of participating parties must also be taken into account.

In this teleconference with Steven A. Cook, Mohamad Bazzi provides an overview of the upcoming elections in Lebanon, and puts forward several post-election scenarios.

Michael Young, opinion editor for Beirut's Daily Star, says the Obama administration has indicated it does not favor a victory for the Hezbollah-led opposition in the 2009 parliamentary elections. Should they win, Lebanon would likely lose economic support from the United States and key Arab states in the region.

South Asia expert Teresita Schaffer says a decisive victory for Congress Party in Indian elections and a possible end to the civil war in Sri Lanka could bolster a region buffeted by conflict.

As the world's largest democracy holds its parliamentary elections, the head of the UN Democracy Fund and an Indian foreign policy expert discuss the frictions between India's national interests and democratic values.

CFR's Princeton Lyman says deep economic challenges confront South Africa's presumed next president, Jacob Zuma, but there are also opportunities for improved U.S. ties.

Arvind Subramanian describes issues of populism and economic development surrounding India's elections.

As the world's largest democracy goes to the polls, this Backgrounder looks at the laws, major players, and issues, including economic reform, caste, and religion, that have shaped India's politics.