Reverse the erosion of democratic norms
A country’s soft power comes primarily from three sources: its culture (when it is attractive to others), its political values such as democracy and human rights (when it lives up… Read more »
Category: Analysis
Faced with creeping authoritarianism, democrats must craft a new agenda
Faced with creeping authoritarianism, liberals need to craft a new agenda—learning from their serious mistakes, and shaking shibboleths of both right and left, argues Timothy Garton Ash. Writers have interpreted… Read more »
A values-based strategy can counter authoritarians
In order to address the authoritarian resurgence, democracies have a values-based competitive advantage, observers suggest. The incoming U.S. administration needs to link foreign aid and democracy assistance to a broader… Read more »
The China challenge: Strategic urgency the prelude to strategic patience?
Cold War analogies aside, the world is in a battle for ideas, values, and the protection of sovereign democracies from outside influence and interference, argues Kevin Sheives – associate director… Read more »
Arab Spring 10 years on: What went wrong?
A decade on, the hope that the Arab spring would bring democracy to the region looks forlorn. the Economist observes. Yet it is too early to say that the Arab… Read more »
D20’s ‘democratic buzz’ can counter ‘existential challenge’ from rising autocrats
Authoritarian state capitalism will remain a formidable alternative to the Western model of open market democracy for the foreseeable future, according to a new report. Which explains why the new… Read more »
Putin’s playbook: Crackdown on civil society intensifies
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the government’s involvement in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, saying Russian authorities would have “finished the job” had they been involved. Earlier this… Read more »
Ten years after the Arab Spring: Why democracy failed
A majority in nine countries across the Arab world feel they are living in significantly more unequal societies today than before the Arab spring, an era of uprisings, civil wars… Read more »
‘Man of the Year’: Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai
By jailing fearless Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai (above) on charges of breaking its new national security law, the Communist Party of China intends to reinforce the new limits… Read more »
South Korea’s anti-leaflet law sparks backlash
This week, the South Korean parliament passed a law criminalizing the practice of floating balloons with anti-regime leaflets, cultural items and cash into North Korea. The move is causing a backlash… Read more »