Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies (WCED)

About WCED The Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies promotes scholarship to better understand the broad historical, political, economic, and societal conditions under which democracies emerge—and autocracies endure.

Student Initiatives WCED offers funding to students who are studying emerging democracies, as well as a workshop for graduate students.

WCED Events We sponsor and co-sponsor lectures, conferences, symposia, and roundtables on a regular basis. Visit our Events page to see what’s coming up, or watch video of past events.

Democracy and Autocracy Newsletter Democracy and Autocracy is the official newsletter of the American Political Science Association’s Democracy and Autocracy section. It is published three times a year by WCED under executive editors Dan Slater (WCED Director, political science) and Rob Mickey (political science).

WCED Book Series The WCED Series published by U-M Press strives to collect a balance of titles on emerging democracies and enduring dictatorships, as one cannot understand the conditions under which democracies live and thrive without comprehending how they die and remain unborn.

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Recent News

Russian journalist to talk on free speech

Elena Milashina, WCED Freedoms Under Fire Residency Fellow, explores independent media

Elena Milashina of Russia’s Novaya Gazeta joins the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies

She is the inaugural Freedoms Under Fire Residency Fellow

all news

The Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies promotes scholarship to better understand the conditions and policies fostering transformations from authoritarian rule to democracy. Initially focusing on transitions in Europe and Eurasia, it will subsequently expand its scope to other emerging democracies across the globe.

Inaugurated in 2008, WCED works in association with the Ronald and Eileen Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, which is comprised of the Center for European Studies; Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; and Copernicus Center for Polish Studies.

Lecture Videos

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Student Funding

Annual Report

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We strive to support our students and faculty on the front lines of learning and research and to steward our planet, our community, our campus. To do this, the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies needs your support.