Bulgaria votes for a new parliament on Sunday, with opinion polls showing a close race between the centre-right and its social democratic opposition.
Author: Charles Richardson
Election preview: Pakistan
Pakistan votes tomorrow in an election that, for all its violence and unpredictability, marks an important milestone on the democratic road.
Hawking, boycotts and the settlements
Physicist Stephen Hawking has decided not to go to a conference in Israel. The Israelis think they're being unfairly picked on.
Federalism and local government
The Gillard government wants the constitutional power to fund local government directly. Here's why that's a bad idea.
Better news at last for Syria
John Kerry goes to Moscow and emerges with some hopeful news for Syria. There's a long way to go, but at least the essential first step has been taken.
Republicans still fighting the Civil War
A new NRA president is the cue for another look at the Republican Party's debt to the deep south.
A new old president for Polynesia
Veteran anti-independence leader Gaston Flosse is back in charge in French Polynesia, but ongoing corruption charges mean that his tenure is far from assured.
Some Malaysian numbers to ponder
An analysis of Malaysia's electoral results shows how the government won. (Hint: it wasn't by winning more votes.)
A dubious victory for Malaysia’s government
Prime minister Najib Tun Razak has been re-elected in Malaysia, but even with all the advantages of a compliant electoral system it's doubtful whether he won the majority of votes.
Could Ireland get a normal party system?
An unsuccessful vote on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland demonstrates Sinn Féin's willingness to defy the Catholic church, raising hopes that Ireland may be on the way to a less sectarian party system.
