Category: Authoritarianism

How the coronavirus ‘exposes lie at the heart of Communist China’

     

As the world tries to contain the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, it needs to heed the message coming from Chinese democrats, which is that we all have a stake… Read more »

Why democracies cannot be ‘satisfaction machines’

     

Seeing democratization after the Cold War as a troubled process of political imitation helps us understand three critical ways in which an unjustifiable over-idealization of capitalism and democracy helped bring… Read more »

How authoritarians subvert constitutional constraints

     

Today’s authoritarians use legal measures to subvert constitutional constraints on their power, note analysts Tim Horley, Anne Meng and Mila Versteeg. Our original study documents all term-limit-evasion strategies worldwide since the year… Read more »

Autocratization poses challenge for democracy assistance strategies

     

Illiberals are neither fully committed to civil liberties – such as freedom of expression, assembly and association – and the rule of law, nor totally devoted to the institutions that… Read more »

Democracy and rule of law in a ‘delicate equilibrium’

     

A former close ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan applied on Monday to register a new political party to challenge his ruling AK Party, saying Turkey needed a “fresh start”… Read more »

Generation Game: Young Africans want more democracy

     

Across Africa the demand for democracy is outstripping supply. Young, urban populations want the right to express themselves, vote in fair elections and hold leaders to account—at the same time… Read more »

Global struggle for democracy ‘lacking leadership’

     

The past twelve months registered the 14th consecutive year of decline in global freedom, according to Freedom in the World 2020, the latest survey of political rights and civil liberties… Read more »

How authoritarian regimes made coronavirus outbreak worse

     

The coronavirus spread from China, but the ruling Communist Party doesn’t want the world spreading it back, notes Anna Fifield. China’s Communist Party appears mindful that other governments might lack the… Read more »

‘Networks of impunity’ for kleptocrats’ malign activities

     

Kleptocrats regularly exploit Europe’s financial system, according to a new report. In the decade since the global financial crisis, dozens of money laundering schemes linked to corrupt, abusive regimes have come… Read more »