Iraqi freedom vs. Iranian domination – or failed state?
For more than a month, Iraq’s protesters have withstood bullets and stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons, as they chanted, danced and called for the ouster of the entire… Read more »
Category: anti-corruption
Pervasive protests affirm civic activism, but carry serious risks
People all over the world are resorting to mass demonstrations to express grievances and press unmet demands, notes Aryeh Neier, President Emeritus of the Open Society Foundations and a founder… Read more »
Autocratic resurgence ‘spells end to West’s global supremacy’?
More countries declined than improved in overall rule of law performance for the second year in a row, continuing a negative slide toward weaker rule of law around the world,… Read more »
Good governance: Put the dragon back in the egg or learn to ride it?
Lebanon’s protesters want ethical universalism, even if the phrase doesn’t appear on any banners or placards. Freedom is no longer enough. They are demanding a government that represents and services… Read more »
States of Change: Eastern Europeans ‘fearful for democracy’
Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, central and eastern Europeans believe that democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law are under threat, according to a… Read more »
Kremlin Winter: How strong is Putin in reality?
Barring a few notable exceptions, the consensus among the commentariat over the past few years — at least in the US and Britain — portrays Vladimir Putin as a mastermind… Read more »
Countering Global Kleptocracy: Protests fueling new era of unrest
Ten or even 20 years ago, the protests unfolding in Lebanon would have led news bulletins around the world—what is more compelling than large portions of the population of this… Read more »
Arab Spring 2.0? Understanding the New Wave of Protests
A new wave of protests and demonstrations has erupted across the Middle East and North Africa over the past 9 months, the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program observes. In… Read more »
‘Reasons for Hope’? Illiberal wave vs. democratic resilience
The illiberal wave in Poland and Hungary, in addition to the corruption in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Slovakia can be easily used as excuses against further EU enlargement, notes Carnegie’s Judy Dempsey…. Read more »
Beijing’s assertiveness betrays its desperation: CCP ‘might collapse’?
China’s ruling Communist Party is holding a key meeting this week amid a drastically slowing economy, ongoing protests in Hong Kong and pushback abroad against Beijing’s global ambitions, AP reports;… Read more »