From democratic backsliding to ‘pandemic forthsliding’?
It is already clear why some countries have done better than others in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic so far, and there is every reason to think those trends will… Read more »
Category: coronavirus
How Coronavirus will change the world: Autocracies more susceptible
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered widespread concern about democracy, with pundits like Larry Diamond claiming that democracy is now under imminent threat as authoritarian tendencies take over. The ability of authoritarian… Read more »
Can civil society creativity sustain protests in coronavirus era?
COVID-19 is not only spreading disease and economic pain, but also corruption scandals throughout Latin America. In many ways, this was a foreseen tragedy, say analysts Roberto Simon and Geert… Read more »
Post-Covid democracy: Renewal with Chinese characteristics?
What will the post-Covid state look like? For citizens in the world’s democracies, the choice ultimately will be between various forms of abdication and concerted action, says a leading analyst. … Read more »
CCP’s Covid culpability confirmed: ‘US-China Competition in the Coronavirus Era’
The World Health Organization struggled to get needed information from China during critical early days of the coronavirus pandemic, according to recordings of internal meetings that contradict the organisation’s public praise… Read more »
Data vs. Disease? Democracy’s Shapeshifting Past—and Uncertain Future
Governments around the world are turning to surveillance technologies to track the spread of COVID-19 and the impact on privacy and human rights could be long-lasting, notes Rachelle Faust, an… Read more »
Post-Covid foreign policy: What place for democratic values?
The end of 2019 marked the 14th consecutive year of decline in global freedom, but also a wave of popular movements from Iraq to Hong Kong to Venezuela demanding accountable… Read more »
COVID-19 lockdowns’ political effect: Good news for democracy
Democracy is demonstrating resilience during the Covid pandemic, according to recent research. But….. Will governments around the world use the pandemic to grab more power and override individual rights? Many… Read more »
‘Strong Yet Brittle’: Digital authoritarianism less resilient than democracy
Authoritarian governments increasingly adopt technology-centric national strategies and methods of internal governance. They control their societies through digital censorship, propaganda, and surveillance, and use these same tools to manipulate foreign… Read more »
Why democracies have the edge in coping with crisis
Throughout the centuries, competitors of the prevailing system have known that disaster presents them with an opportunity. Writing about the Black Death, which culled more than 40 per cent of… Read more »