Cambodia: ‘old-style politics in a new society’
For 30 years, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge fighter, has wielded power through a combination of threats, clever deal-making and sheer willpower. And for most of that… Read more »
Category: Authoritarianism
Ten reasons Putinism is not sustainable
Columbia University analyst Mariya Snegovaya points to ten reasons why Putinism may not be nearly as “sustainable” as many think, Paul Goble writes for The Interpreter: Protest attitudes are growing… Read more »
Promoting Democracy in Central Asia and the Caucasus: How Have We Done?
The Freedom Support Act of 1992 (Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act) made the “promotion of democracy” a main strategic priority of the US… Read more »
Why Libya’s transition failed
The ultimate blame for Libya’s failed transition must lay with Muammar Gaddafi, who bequeathed Libyans a country without a state, notes a leading analyst. Leaders of the new Libya found it… Read more »
Muted Modernists? Saudi Islamists ‘campaign for democracy’
The Saudi regime watched the 2011 Arab Spring unfold across the Middle East with deep unease. As the year progressed, the regime responded by rounding up moderate Islamists because of… Read more »
Hollowing out democracy: Hungary and beyond
Following the revolutions of 1989 that brought down communism in Central Europe, it appeared that the region was on the path to the consolidation of liberal democracy. This optimism, however,… Read more »
Russian repression hits close to home
Anyone who has paid attention to Russia in the last several years is well aware that the regime of Vladimir Putin has seriously cracked down on civil society and freedom… Read more »
Kremlin deploying new tactics against NGOs
Russia’s Justice Ministry has deployed another tactic to shut down NGOs it says aren’t in compliance with the foreign agent law, Charles Digges reports: suing them in court and demanding… Read more »
U.S.-ASEAN summit needs more than symbolism
Human rights and democracy advocates are calling on President Barack Obama to use the occasion of this week’s U.S.-ASEAN summit at California’s Sunnylands retreat to publicly raise concerns about… Read more »
Russian accused of silencing activists up for top U.N. NGO liaison post
A Russian diplomat accused of playing a role in President Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on foreign human rights and pro-democracy activists has emerged as a frontrunner for a top job overseeing… Read more »