WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 8, 2025) – McCain Institute Senior Director of Global Democracy Programs Laura Thornton highlights the deepening democratic decline in Georgia following the October 4, 2025, local elections in her latest op-ed, “After Another Sham Election in Georgia, the Country’s Citizens Persist.” With the pro-Russian Georgian Dream (GD) party tightening its grip on power […] The post ICYMI: McCain Institute’s Laura Thornton’s Op-Ed in Just Security: “After Anothe...| McCain Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2025) – McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack, when Hamas terrorists, backed by Iran, killed 1,200 people, and seized more than 240 hostages in the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. “Two years ago today, Hamas […] The post McCain Institute Executive Director Remarks on Anniversary of October 7 Hamas Terror Attack appeared first on ...| McCain Institute
TOKYO, Japan (October 7, 2025) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University today announced the International House of Japan (I-House) as the official partner and host venue for the Sedona Forum’s first overseas event: “Sedona Forum–Tokyo”, scheduled for January 15, 2026, in Tokyo. Founded in 1952, I-House is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering […] The post McCain Institute Announces International House of Japan as Official Partner for Sedona Forum – ...| McCain Institute
Ajay Krishnan is a 2025 McCain Global Leader from India. He is a former Navy fighter pilot who has excelled in the Aerospace and Defense industry, working with multinational American and European companies like Lockheed Martin and Theon Sensors. In 2008, while I was just entering my 20s, the world was literally falling apart. There […] The post Strength of Character – A McCain Leadership Experience appeared first on McCain Institute.| McCain Institute
Lieutenant (LT) James Eggers is a 2025 McCain Global Leader. Eggers is an officer in the United States Coast Guard, and most recently served as the Coast Guard’s governmental affairs liaison to Customs and Border Protection. When I reflect on my weeklong McCain Global Leaders Leadership Experience, I keep coming back to the legacy of […] The post Honoring McCain’s Legacy Through Leadership, Character, and Service appeared first on McCain Institute.| McCain Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 29, 2025) – In a new op-ed, “Why Moldova’s struggle against Russian influence matters for America,” McCain Institute Executive Affairs Manager Jennifer Lundy notes that Russia is using Moldova’s September 28 parliamentary election as a laboratory to test its most advanced interference tactics in an attempt to destabilize Moldova, block its EU […] The post ICYMI: McCain Institute’s Jennifer Lundy in DC Journal: “Why Moldova’s Struggle Against Russi...| McCain Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2025) – The Georgian Dream (GD) regime in Tbilisi has expanded its anti-democratic campaign to include foreign diplomats in the country. Their latest target is Germany’s Ambassador Peter Fischer. As GD continues its attacks against independent media, the opposition, civil society, and the nightly protestors, diplomats like Fischer have vocally stood […] The post The McCain Institute Stands Behind German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer appeared first o...| McCain Institute
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2025) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) kicked off the 2025 McCain Global Leaders (MGL) fellowship with the Leadership Experience. This foundational experience featured discussions on leadership and the U.S. political landscape with experts including the University of Chicago’s David Axelrod, CBS News’ Major Garrett, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly […] The post 2025 McCain Global Leaders Fellowship Commences with Leadership Discussions w...| McCain Institute
Applications will be accepted until October 24 WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2025) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) is now accepting applications for its American Democracy & Technology Fellowship. Created with the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this one-year fellowship seeks to advance thought leadership and policy […] The post McCain Institute Launches American Democracy & Technology Fellowship appeared first on McCain Institute.| McCain Institute
The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) will serve as an official partner for the Athens Democracy Forum, taking place September 30 – October 3, 2025, in Athens, Greece.| McCain Institute
This week marks six months since the arbitrary detention of Venezuelan human rights defender and civil society leader Jesús Armas.| McCain Institute
In early 2021, the McCain Institute for International Leadership at ASU launched a Global Experts Consortium on Prosecuting Human Trafficking.| McCain Institute
The McCain Institute's Democracy Program provides assistance to activists in their countries and elevates these issues in U.S. foreign policy.| McCain Institute
In a new op-ed, “Russia Isn’t ‘Influencing’ Moldova’s Election,” McCain Institute's Laura Thornton warns that Russia's disinformation and financial campaigns in Moldova are more than just “influence operations” but a “multi-vector war” in Moldova.| McCain Institute
McCain Institute Senior Director for Global Democracy Programs Laura Thornton has written an assessment ahead of the September 28 Moldovan parliamentary election.| McCain Institute
The McCain Institute, The German Marshall Fund, and European Council on Foreign Relations, organized a pre-election mission to Moldova in September 2025.| McCain Institute
The McCain Institute’s John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative (FPPI) commends the landmark executive order from the White House formally recognizing and penalizing states that engage in wrongful detention of U.S. citizens as a means of political leverage.| McCain Institute
This blog is part of a summer blog series written by the McCain Institute’s Summer Junior Fellows. Abigail Bergan is a junior fellow for the Leadership Programs team. Most Americans do not feel connected to their own armed forces. Fewer than 1% of U.S. adults are active-duty service members, and as of February 2025, only […]| McCain Institute
Governor Katie Hobbs has proclaimed August 25–31, 2025, as the second annual John McCain Democracy Week, recognizing Senator McCain’s enduring legacy in the state of Arizona, working for the people of Arizona, and his lifetime achievements fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights around the globe.| McCain Institute
The McCain Institute’s Resource Center. The latest of The McCain Institute in the news, events, podcasts, reports, archives and more all in one place.| McCain Institute
Funding will support initiative providing global advocacy to free political prisoners, hostages This article originally appeared in ASU News The McCain Institute at Arizona State University has received a $500,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York to boost its global work on behalf of political prisoners and hostages. The grant will serve as seed funding for […]| McCain Institute
Marilena Stegbauer is a 2023 McCain Global Leader from Germany and an international lawyer based in London. She is part of the legal team advocating for the release of Jesús Armas. On December 10, 2024, my friend and fellow McCain Global Leader, Jesús Armas, was forcibly disappeared by masked men in Caracas. Today, eight months […]| McCain Institute
Russia’s conflict in Europe is not contained to traditional warfare; it has been waging a cultural war for decades. Its imperialist maneuvers are rooted in cultural, territorial, and linguistic ties tracing back to the Russian Empire and Soviet Union.| McCain Institute
This blog is part of a summer blog series written by the McCain Institute’s Summer Junior Fellows. Jillian Proshan is a junior fellow for the Human Rights & Freedom program. Let’s begin with a math problem. As of 2015, China declared that all organ donations would be “sourced from voluntary donors,” repealing an earlier policy […]| McCain Institute
This blog is part of a summer blog series written by the McCain Institute’s Summer Junior Fellows. Jillian Proshan is a junior fellow for the Human Rights & Freedom program. “Have any of you seen the TV show Ozark?” This question began the June 2025 meeting of the McCain Institute’s Global Experts Consortium on Prosecuting […]| McCain Institute
The 2024 Europe and Eurasia cohort of McCain Global Leaders will travel to Poland for a week of learning, engagement, and community-building this July.| McCain Institute
At the McCain Institute for International Leadership, we are fighting to secure democracy and alliances, defend human rights, and advance character-driven leadership.| McCain Institute
Jesús Armas, a Venezuelan activist and dedicated advocate for democracy, has become a symbol of resilience and courage in the face of authoritarian repression.| McCain Institute
