Russia a kleptocracy long before Putin
Revelations from the Panama Papers, one of the great financial scandals of our time, have focused mainly on the law firm that carved the offshore shell firms, the major banks that turned… Read more »
Category: Authoritarianism
State Capitalism resurgence threatens democracy
Liberal democracies are under threat from a resurgence of state capitalism, which is ultimately “more protectionist, more dangerous to global security and prosperity, and more threatening to political freedom” than free… Read more »
Cuban Voices: Paths to the Future
After over 50 years, dual eras are coming to a close in Cuba: prolonged hostility towards the United States and the leadership of the Castro brothers, according to Inter-American Dialogue:… Read more »
The Decline and Fall of the Arab State
A mere five years ago, the suggestion that Egypt would have experienced two changes of regime or that Tunisia would be in the midst of a democratic transition would also… Read more »
Russian rights defender receives political asylum
Russian rights defender Nadezhda Kutepova has received political asylum in France, RFE/RL reports: Kutepova, the director of the Planeta Nadezhd (A Planet of Hope) nongovernmental organization, left for France in… Read more »
Panama Papers give glimpse through keyhole of kleptocracy
The Panama Papers are a glimpse through a keyhole of an orgy of tax evasion, money laundering and kleptocracy – amid the legitimate financial planning – hosted by the world’s… Read more »
Despite crackdown, China faces ‘real risk of social disorder’
As an old-style Leninist party in a modern world, China’s ruling Communist party is confronted by two major challenges, notes Orville Schell, the Arthur Ross Director of the Center… Read more »
Illiberal powers emboldened – Authoritarianism Goes Global
Over the past decade, and gained influence within the global arena. Leading authoritarian countries―including China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela―have developed new tools and strategies to contain the… Read more »
Biggest global corruption scandal threatens autocrats
A huge leak of data from Panama has exposed a web of secret offshore companies that has allegedly been used to hide wealth, evade taxes and launder money. Hundreds… Read more »
Vietnam convicts 7 activists in one week
Vietnam’s Communist authorities should immediately free prominent bloggers and activists imprisoned for exercising their rights, Human Rights Watch said today: During the last week of March 2016, Vietnam convicted seven… Read more »