Bio

Larry Diamond is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University. He also chairs the Hoover Institution Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region and is the principal investigator of the Global Digital Policy Incubator, part of Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center. For more than six years, he directed FSI’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, where he now leads its Program on Arab Reform and Democracy. During 2017–18, he cochaired, with Orville Schell, a working group formed of researchers from Hoover and from the Asia Society Center on US-China Relations, culminating in the report China’s Influence and American Interests: Promoting Constructing Vigilance (published by the Hoover Institution Press in 2019). He is the founding coeditor of the Journal of Democracy and also serves as senior consultant at the International Forum for Democratic Studies of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Diamond’s research focuses on democratic trends and conditions around the world and on policies and reforms to defend and advance democracy. His latest book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency, analyzes the challenges confronting liberal democracy in the United States and around the world at this potential “hinge in history,” and offers an agenda for strengthening and defending democracy at home and abroad.

Diamond is professor by courtesy of Political Science and Sociology at Stanford University, where he teaches courses on democracy and American foreign policy. He is currently offering Comparative Democratic Development as a massive open online course (MOOC) on the edX platform.

During 2002–03, Diamond served as a consultant to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and was a contributing author of its report Foreign Aid in the National Interest. He has also advised and lectured to universities and think tanks around the world, and to the World Bank, the United Nations, the State Department, and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies dealing with governance and development. During the first three months of 2004, Diamond served as a senior adviser on governance to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. His 2005 book, Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq, was one of the first books to critically analyze America's postwar engagement in Iraq.

Diamond’s other books include In Search of Democracy (2016), The Spirit of Democracy (2008), Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation (1999), Promoting Democracy in the 1990s (1995), and Class, Ethnicity, and Democracy in Nigeria (1989). He has also edited or coedited some fifty books on democratic development around the world. Among them are Democracy in Decline? (2016); Democratization and Authoritarianism in the Arab World (2014); Will China Democratize? (2013); and Liberation Technology: Social Media and the Struggle for Democracy (2012), all edited with Marc F. Plattner; and Politics and Culture in Contemporary Iran (2015), with Abbas Milani. With Juan J. Linz and Seymour Martin Lipset he edited the four-volume series Democracy in Developing Countries (1988–89), which helped to shape a new generation of comparative study of democratic development.

Diamond writes a monthly column for the American Interest and frequently writes, speaks, and consults about how to defend and reform liberal democracy

He received all of his degrees from Stanford University, including a B.A. in 1974, an M.A. in 1978, and a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1980. He taught Sociology at Vanderbilt University from 1980-85.

Academic Appointments

Honors & Awards

  • Teacher of the Year Award, Associated Students of Stanford University (May 2007)
  • Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award for Exceptional Service to Stanford University, Stanford University (June 2016)
  • Dinkelspiel Award for Distinctive Contributions to Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (June 2007)
  • POSCO Visiting Fellow, East-West Center, Honolulu (August 1999)
  • Fulbright Teaching Fellowship, Visiting Lecturer in Sociology at Bayero University, Kano (1982-83)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Member, Board of Directors, Voices of a Democratic Egypt (2008 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Council for a Community of Democracies (2006 - Present)
  • Member, Advisory Commission on Voluntary Foreign Aid (U.S. Agency for International Development) (2004 - 2007)
  • Member, Stanford University Task Force on Student Mental Health and Well-Being (2006 - 2008)
  • Member, Faculty Advisory Board, Haas Center for Public Service (2007 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Hillel at Stanford (2004 - Present)
  • Member, Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward Reform in the Arab World (2004 - 2005)
  • Member, Faculty Steering Committee, Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford University (2003 - 2006)
  • Consultant, U.S. Agency for International Development (2001 - 2003)
  • Member, Executive Board, Society for Comparative Research (1997 - 2002)
  • Member of the Editorial Board, Current History (2000 - Present)
  • Member, Editorial Board, India Review (2001 - Present)
  • Member, International Advisory Board, International Human Rights Consortium, Center On Rights Development, Denver University (2001 - Present)
  • Co-coordinator, Democratization Seminar, Institute for International Studies, Stanford University (1994 - 2002)
  • Co-coordinator, U.S. and World Affairs Seminar, Hoover Institution (1990 - 2003)

Program Affiliations

  • Center for East Asian Studies
  • Center for Human Rights and International Justice
  • Iranian Studies
  • Program in International Relations
  • Public Policy

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Stanford University, Sociology (1980)
  • M.A., Stanford University, Food Research Institute (1978)
  • B.A., Stanford University, Political Organization and Behavior (1974)

Contact

  • Academic
    ldiamond@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: FSI Position: Senior Fellow
    • Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law
    • Encina Hall
    • Stanford,  California  94305-6055 
    (650) 724-2996 (fax)
    University - Academic staff Department: HOOVER RESEARCH Position: Hoover Senior Fellow
    • Hoover Institution
    • Hoover Town 12th Floor
    • Stanford,  California  94305-6010 
    (650) 724-2996 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 6055

Links

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

democratic development and regime change; U.S. foreign policy affecting democracy abroad; comparative trends in the quality and stability of democracy in developing countries and postcommunist states; and public opinion in new democracies, especially in East Asia

Projects

  • Taiwan Democracy Project, Stanford University

    Location

    Taiwan

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • Democracy's Arc: From Resurgent to Imperiled JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2022; 33 (1): 163-179

    View details for Web of Science ID 000744433500013

  • Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society (Book Review) JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Book Review Authored by: Diamond, L. 2021; 32 (2): 179-183

    View details for Web of Science ID 000640102300013

  • Democratic regression in comparative perspective: scope, methods, and causes DEMOCRATIZATION Diamond, L. 2020

    View details for DOI 10.1080/13510347.2020.1807517

    View details for Web of Science ID 000569247600001

  • Demography and the Future of Democracy PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS Goldstone, J. A., Diamond, L. 2020; 18 (3): 867–80

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S1537592719005000

    View details for Web of Science ID 000566984800013

  • BREAKING OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SLUMP JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2020; 31 (1): 36–50

    View details for Web of Science ID 000507373100004

  • Democracy Demotion How the Freedom Agenda Fell Apart FOREIGN AFFAIRS Diamond, L. 2019; 98 (4): 17–25

    View details for Web of Science ID 000470802100003

  • THE THREAT OF POSTMODERN TOTALITARIANISM JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2019; 30 (1): 20–24

    View details for DOI 10.1353/jod.2019.0001

    View details for Web of Science ID 000455213500002

  • Deliberative polling for multistakeholder internet governance: considered judgments on access for the next billion INFORMATION COMMUNICATION & SOCIETY Fishkin, J. S., Senges, M., Donahoe, E., Diamond, L., Siu, A. 2018; 21 (11): 1541–54

    View details for DOI 10.1080/1369118X.2017.1340497

    View details for Web of Science ID 000436970900002

  • Democracy in Decline How Washington Can Reverse the Tide FOREIGN AFFAIRS Diamond, L. 2016; 95 (4): 151-159

    View details for Web of Science ID 000377637500017

  • FACING UP TO THE DEMOCRATIC RECESSION JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2015; 26 (1): 141-155

    View details for Web of Science ID 000348693100012

  • The Next Democratic Century CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 2014; 113 (759): 8-11

    View details for Web of Science ID 000342186800004

  • Petroleum to the People Africa's Coming Resource Curse-and How to Avoid It FOREIGN AFFAIRS Diamond, L., Mosbacher, J. 2013; 92 (5): 86-98

    View details for Web of Science ID 000323239100008

  • THE NEED FOR A POLITICAL PACT JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2012; 23 (4): 138-149

    View details for Web of Science ID 000309792500016

  • THE COMING WAVE JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2012; 23 (1): 5-13

    View details for Web of Science ID 000299145400001

  • Elections Without Democracy: Thinking about Hybrid Regimes Journal of Democracy Diamond , L. 2012; 13 (2)
  • Liberation Technology: Social Media and the Struggle for Democracy Diamond, L., Plattner, M. F. The Johns Hopkins University Press. 2012
  • Democracy's Third Wave Today CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 2011; 110 (739): 299-307

    View details for Web of Science ID 000296403700001

  • WHY DEMOCRACIES SURVIVE JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2011; 22 (1): 17-30

    View details for Web of Science ID 000286350000002

  • The Financial Crisis and the Democracy Recession New Ideas on Development after the Financial Crisis Diamond , L. Johns Hopkins University Press. 2011
  • The Impact of the Economic Crisis: Why Democracies Survive Journal of Democracy Diamond , L. 2011; 22: 17-30
  • “A Fourth Wave or a False Start: Democracy after the Arab Spring Foreign Affairs Diamond , L. 2011
  • The Meanings of Democracy INTRODUCTION JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2010; 21 (4): 102-105

    View details for Web of Science ID 000283024500009

  • LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2010; 21 (3): 69-83

    View details for Web of Science ID 000279967300006

  • The State and Violence PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS Diamond, L. 2010; 8 (1): 293-296

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S1537592709992593

    View details for Web of Science ID 000276727900032

  • WHY ARE THERE NO ARAB DEMOCRACIES? JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2010; 21 (1): 93-104

    View details for Web of Science ID 000273675000010

  • Democratization in Africa Plattner , M. F. edited by Diamond, L. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2010
  • IS A 'RAINBOW COALITION' A GOOD WAY TO GOVERN? BULLETIN OF INDONESIAN ECONOMIC STUDIES Diamond, L. 2009; 45 (3): 337-340

    View details for DOI 10.1080/00074910903424035

    View details for Web of Science ID 000274274800003

  • Supporting Democracy: Refashioning U.S. Global Strategy Democracy in U.S. Security Strategy: From Promotion to Support Diamond, L. Center for Strategic and International Studies. 2009
  • Democracy: A Reader edited by Diamond , L., Plattner , M. F. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2009
  • The democratic rollback - The resurgence of the predatory state FOREIGN AFFAIRS Diamond, L. 2008; 87 (2): 36-48

    View details for Web of Science ID 000253328100004

  • Political Change in China: Comparisons with Taiwan edited by Diamond , L., Gilley , B. Lynne Rienner Publishers . 2008
  • Forward Smart Aid for African Development Diamond, L. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 2008
  • Conclusion: Values, Regime Performance, and Democratic Consolidation How East Asians View Democracy Diamond , L., Chu , Y., Nathan , A. J. Columbia University Press . 2008 : 238–257
  • Progress and Retreat in Africa: The Rule of Law versus the Big Man Journal of Democracy Diamond , L. 2008 ; 19: 138-149
  • How People View Democracy edited by Diamond , L., Plattner , M. F. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2008
  • Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Democratic Legitimacy in East Asia How East Asians View Democracy Diamond , L., Chu , Y., Nathan , A. J., Shin , D. C. Columbia University Press. 2008 : 1–38
  • How East Asians View Democracy edited by Diamond , L., Chu , Y., Nathan , A., Shin , D. C. Columbia University Press . 2008
  • A Compatative Perspective on Hong Kong Democratization: Proespects Toward 2017/2020 China’s Hong Kong Transformed: Retrospect and Prospects Diamond , L. City University of Hong Kong Press. 2008 : 315–333
  • Why China's Democratic Transition Will Differ From Taiwan's Political Change in China: Comparisons with Taiwan Diamond , L. Lynne Rienner Publishers . 2008 : 243–257
  • Prospects for Democratization in Hong Kong: A Comparative Perspective Hong Kong on the Move: 10 Years as the HKSAR Diamond , L. Center for Strategic and International Studies . 2008 : 3–17
  • The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World Diamond , L. Times Books. 2008
  • Political Change in China: Comparisons with Taiwan Chen, W. edited by Diamond , L., Gilley, B. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 2008
  • Latin America’s Struggle for Democracy edited by Diamond , L., Plattner, M. F., Abente , D. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2008
  • Iran's weakened hard-liners crave a US attack Christian Science Monitor McFaul, M. A., Milani , A., Diamond , L. 2007
  • Iraq and democracy: The lessons learned CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 2006; 105 (687): 34-39

    View details for Web of Science ID 000234672800006

  • Seeding Liberal Democracy With All Our Might: A Progressive Strategy for Defeating Jihadism and Defending Liberty McFaul, M. A., Diamond, L. 2006
  • What to do in Iraq: A Roundtable Foreign Affairs Diamond, L., Dobbins, J., Kaufmann, C., Gelb, L. H., Biddle, S. 2006; 85 (4)
  • Electoral Systems and Democracy Plattner , M. F. edited by Diamond , L. The Johns Hopkins University Press. 2006
  • Slide Rules: What Civil War Looks Like The New Republic Diamond, L. 2006: 11-14
  • A win-win US strategy for dealing with Iran WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M., Milani, A., Diamond, L. 2006; 30 (1): 121-138

    View details for Web of Science ID 000242662600009

  • A transatlantic strategy to promote democratic development in the broader Middle East WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Asmus, R. D., Diamond, L., Leonard, M., McFaul, M. 2005; 28 (2): 7-21

    View details for Web of Science ID 000227778200001

  • Empowering the Poor: What Does Democracy Have to Do with It? Measuring Empowerment: Cross Disciplinary Perspectives Diamond , L. 2005
  • Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq Diamond , L. Times Books. 2005
  • What Went Wrong and Right in Iraq Nation-Building: Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq Diamond , L. 2005
  • Beyond Incrementalism: A New U.S. Strategy for Dealing with Iran Hoover Institution Press McFaul, M. A., Diamond, L., Milani, A. 2005
  • Building democracy after conflict - Introduction JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Plattner, M. F. 2005; 16 (1): 5-8

    View details for Web of Science ID 000226347100001

  • World Religions and Democracy edited by Diamond, L., Plattner, M. F., Costopoulos, P. J. The Johns Hopkins University Press . 2005
  • Assessing the Quality of Democracy edited by Diamond , L., Morlino, L. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2005
  • The quality of democracy - An overview JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L., Morlino, L. 2004; 15 (4): 20-31

    View details for Web of Science ID 000224470300002

  • What went wrong in Iraq FOREIGN AFFAIRS Diamond, L. 2004; 83 (5): 34-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000223299800005

  • Nigeria's Struggle for Democracy and Good Governance: A Festschrift for Oyeleye Oyediran Onwuiwe , E. edited by Agbaje, A. A., Diamond, L. Ibadan University Press. 2004
  • Promoting Real Reform in Africa Democratic Reform in Africa: The Quality of Progress Diamond , L. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 2004
  • Universal democracy? POLICY REVIEW Diamond, L. 2003: 3-25

    View details for Web of Science ID 000224067400001

  • Species of political parties - A new typology PARTY POLITICS Gunther, R., Diamond, L. 2003; 9 (2): 167-199

    View details for Web of Science ID 000181472100002

  • Islam and Democracy in the Middle East Diamond, L., Plattner, M. F., Brumberg, D. Johns Hopkins Univeristy Press. 2003
  • The Rule of Law as Transition to Democracy in China Journal of Contemporary China Diamond, L. 2003; 12 (35)
  • Institutional Design, Ethnic Conflict Management, and Democracy in Nigeria The Architecture of Democracy: Constitutional Design, Conflict Mangement and Democracy Diamond, L., Suberu, R. Oxford University Press. 2002
  • Democracy After Communism Plattner, M. F. edited by Diamond, L. Johns Hopkins University Press. 2002
  • Consolidating Democracies Comparing Democracies: New Challenges in the Study of Elections and Voting Diamond , L. Sage. 2002
  • Promoting Democratic Governance U.S. Agency for International Development, Foreign Aid in the National Interest: Promoting Freedom, Security, and Opportunity Diamond, L. U.S. Agency for International Development. 2002: 33–53
  • Foreword to "Federalism and Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria" Federalism and Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria Diamond , L. U.S. Institute of Peace. 2001
  • How People View Democracy: Halting Progress in Korea and Taiwan Journal of Democracy Chu, Y., Diamond , L. 2001; 12 (1)
  • Anatomy of an Earthquake: How the KMT Lost and the DPP Won the 2000 Presidential Election Taiwan's Presidential Politics: Democratization and Cross-Strait Relations in the 21st Century Diamond, L. M.E. Sharpe . 2001
  • Building a World of Liberal Democracies Foreign Policy for America's Third Century: Alternative Perspectives Diamond , L. Hoover Institutution Press . 2001
  • Political Parties and Democracy edited by Diamond , L., Gunther , R. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2001
  • The Global Divergence of Democracies Diamond , L., Plattner , M. F. Johns Hopkins University Press . 2001
  • The global state of democracy CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 2000; 99 (641): 413-418

    View details for Web of Science ID 000165497200005

  • Is Pakistan the (reverse) wave of the future? JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Diamond, L. 2000; 11 (3): 91-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000088288200010

  • Consolidating democracy in the Americas First Congress of the Americas Diamond, L. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 1997: 12–41

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997WJ79700002

  • THE GLOBAL IMPERATIVE - BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC WORLD-ORDER CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 1994; 93 (579): 1-7

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994MP12400001

  • EX-AFRICA - A NEW DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT HAS LOOSENED THE GRIP OF AFRICAN DICTATORIAL RULE TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT Diamond, L. 1993: 3-4

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993LK76100001

  • PROMOTING DEMOCRACY FOREIGN POLICY Diamond, L. 1992: 25-46

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HW90900002

  • ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRACY RECONSIDERED AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST Diamond, L. 1992; 35 (4-5): 450-499

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HG90700006

  • BEYOND AUTHORITARIANISM AND TOTALITARIANISM - STRATEGIES FOR DEMOCRATIZATION WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Diamond, L. 1989; 12 (1): 141-163

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989R400800010

  • CLASS FORMATION IN THE SWOLLEN AFRICAN STATE JOURNAL OF MODERN AFRICAN STUDIES Diamond, L. 1987; 25 (4): 567-596

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987N537000001

  • BUILDING AND SUSTAINING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - SOME TENTATIVE FINDINGS WORLD AFFAIRS Diamond, L., LIPSET, S. M., Linz, J. 1987; 150 (1): 5-19

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987K208700002

  • NIGERIA BETWEEN DICTATORSHIP AND DEMOCRACY CURRENT HISTORY Diamond, L. 1987; 86 (520): 201-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987H045900003

  • ISSUES IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN OF A THIRD NIGERIAN REPUBLIC AFRICAN AFFAIRS Diamond, L. 1987; 86 (343): 209-226

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987H556400005

  • EFFECTS OF INVESTMENT DEPENDENCE ON ECONOMIC-GROWTH - ROLE OF INTERNAL STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PERIODS IN THE WORLD-ECONOMY INTERNATIONAL STUDIES QUARTERLY Gobalet, J. G., DIAMOND, L. J. 1979; 23 (3): 412-444

    View details for Web of Science ID A1979HQ23200004

  • DEMOCRACYS RACE AGAINST TIME NATION Diamond, L. 1975; 220 (18): 558-562

    View details for Web of Science ID A1975AA31600014

  • BOOM TIME ALONG SUEZ NATION Diamond, L. 1975; 220 (22): 680-684

    View details for Web of Science ID A1975AD20500007