Developing democracy with urgency and resolve
The global political environment has become more fraught, and democracy is facing threats and pressures that were mostly unforeseen a decade ago, according to a new report. The field of… Read more »
Category: Civil Society
Democratic renewal can counter ‘Ill Winds’ of autocracy and complacency
Larry Diamond has spent 40 years circumnavigating the globe promoting democracy in Nigeria, Venezuela and some 70 other countries. Yet today he is aghast, notes Gary J. Bass, a professor… Read more »
Challenging illiberal democracy’s ‘post truth’ world. Is the tide shifting?
Illiberal regimes have had a good run, but perhaps the tide is shifting. “Protesters poured into [Hong Kong’s] streets for a second Sunday despite the suspension of a controversial bill to expand… Read more »
Digital Democracy Agency? Invest in resilience to win new information war
Russian online outlets spread disinformation to sway voters in last month’s European Union elections, the bloc said on Friday in a report calling for social media firms to take greater… Read more »
‘Democratic Spring’ stirring in Eurasia?
Meduza journalist Ivan Golunov’s release from house arrest does not imply a softening of the Kremlin’s stance toward civil society or a strengthening of its fight against corruption, Russia analysts… Read more »
Two democracies in Beijing’s shadow. Today’s Hong Kong, tomorrow’s Taiwan?
Only a fool would predict a happy ending to the Hong Kong story, but it is also foolish to assume that history will follow a predictable course, notes Jeffrey… Read more »
Impose sanctions to end Nicaragua’s year-long civil unrest, restore fundamental freedoms
Nicaragua’s government said more than one hundred prisoners arrested during recent anti-government protests were freed (Reuters: HT-CFR) this week under a new amnesty law. Human rights groups and members of… Read more »
Why Sudan is shutting down its Internet
Sudan’s military authorities are shutting down the Internet in an effort to suffocate the current pro-democracy protest movement. Internet shutdowns are not new, but they have become increasingly popular instrument… Read more »
A World Safe for Autocracy? Illiberal China’s Rise in a Liberal World Order
China’s assertion of sharp power is one reason why Canada must develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen cultural diplomacy as a pillar of foreign policy, according to a new Senate… Read more »
Tackling digital threats to democracy? How (not) to regulate the Internet
Current proposals around disinformation are described in negative terms: they are all about stopping “harms” and mitigating “dangers,” notes Peter Pomerantsev, a director of the Arena Program at the… Read more »