Category: Analysis

Homo Sovieticus mentality impeding democratic change in Post-Soviet space

     

The prospects of democracy in Belarus and Russia may be bleak, but pessimism is no excuse for inaction or apathy, according to Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich. Vladimir Putin is able… Read more »

Georgia’s reserve of democratic assets challenged by citizen disconnect

     

Georgia has an unenviable position in the Caucasus. Torn between Russia and the West, its people demand security and prosperity, according to the Stratfor intelligence group: The ruling Georgian Dream… Read more »

The Middle East Unbalanced

     

  In 2011, the political trajectories of many Arab states appeared to converge as protesters across the region revolted against corruption and authoritarianism, demanding dignity and acknowledgement of their basic… Read more »

Russia: Same Game, New Tactics

     

For some observers, Vladimir Putin’s re-election in 2018 is a foregone conclusion; they see him as a virtual “president-for-life,” secure enough to ignore pressures that might force another leader to… Read more »

Venezuela ‘is sinking,’ Capriles fears

     

As food riots, looting and police crackdowns shake Venezuela, the political opposition has increased its pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to accept a referendum on his rule, TIME reports: On June 7 opposition leader Henrique Capriles led a march… Read more »

Dalai Lama’s White House highlights China’s ‘insecurity’

     

President Obama met with the Dalai Lama as scheduled on Wednesday, despite objections from the Chinese government. Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and… Read more »

Tackling violent radicalization by counter-propaganda, inclusive governance, advancing democracy

     

Amid terror threats and continued travel by young people to and from Syria, the European Commission wants to help EU countries to tackle violent radicalization, EU Observer reports: The EU… Read more »

China, Russia ‘reshaping the rules of the game’ on media, elections, civil society

     

U.S  policy towards Russia should be “based on a hard calculation of national interests and an unsentimental, non-ideological assessment of how Russia might help us advance or thwart our goals,”… Read more »