A new survey finds that Afghanistan and Pakistan are on surprisingly similar demographic paths. Demographer Elizabeth Leahy Madsen says this is good news for Afghanistan, but not for Pakistan, where efforts to meet family planning needs have fallen short. more

The Islamists Are Coming is the first book to survey the rise of Islamist groups in the wake of the Arab Spring. Often lumped together, the more than 50 Islamist parties with millions of followers now constitute a whole new spectrum—separate from either militants or secular parties. They will shape the new order in the world’s most volatile region more than any other political bloc. Yet they have diverse goals and different constituencies. Sometimes they are even rivals. more

Unprecedented numbers of young people in weak and war-torn African nations, in short, tend to be characterized by the gap between what most youth need and what governments and international donors think they need, not to mention what they actually get. more

This report draws from the dialogue and seminar papers shared at an April 2011 meeting co-hosted by the Wilson Center and the Fetzer Institute to explore how best to respond to disasters. Highlighting the complex nature of disaster response and exploring ways to overcome the inherent tension between those responding to disasters and the local community, the discussion centered on how to identify the strengths of a community and use technology to better engage the local community and provide effective, sustainable relief. more