Category: Civil Society

Georgia’s status as post-Soviet democratic leader challenged

     

Georgia’s status as a post-Soviet democratic leader is under challenge, according to analysts Denis Corboy, William Courtney, Kenneth Yalowitz. A flawed presidential election, use of force against protesters, and political manipulations… Read more »

Algeria crackdown as election looms: Is a democratic transition possible?

     

Algeria‘s contentious presidential election campaign is highlighting the deep gulf between young people at the heart of a street protest movement and an ageing elite they see as clinging to… Read more »

Offsetting Sudan’s deep state: Unfolding transition offers promise – and substantial risk

     

Sudan’s unfolding transition offers both great promise and substantial risk, according to a new analysis. There is every reason to expect that entrenched interests that have benefited under the old… Read more »

Latin America’s protests: Temporary social agitation or a sign of troubled democracy?

     

Violent protests in Latin America have resulted in destroyed property, thousands of arrests and dozens of deaths. Observers, including scholars of the region, are surprised by the recent turmoil in… Read more »

As disinformation spreads, ‘microtargeting’ advertising tools may threaten democracy

     

  As Facebook sought to recover from its disastrous 2016 election season, company officials debated ways to curb distortions and disinformation on the platform. One of the most potentially powerful… Read more »

Art of Deceit: West’s strategic culture impedes political warfare against autocrats’ sharp power

     

Authoritarian states have taken a “whole-of-government” approach to weaponizing previously benign activities like diplomacy, media, investment flows, and civil society activity, says a new report. But their activities betray a… Read more »

China’s book-burning a sign of regime’s legitimacy crisis?

     

Library officials in northwestern China recently hoped to demonstrate their ideological fervor and loyalty to the Communist Party by purging politically incorrect books and religious materials in emphatic fashion: They… Read more »