Category: Democratic institutions

Cultural ‘retro backlash’ driving authoritarian populism

     

Cultural divisions and resentments are driving the rise of authoritarian populism across the Western world, according to a new book. Cultural backlash: Trump, Brexit, and authoritarian populism, by Pippa Norris… Read more »

The lost art of diplomacy for democracy

     

Diplomacy may be one of the world’s oldest professions, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood, says William J. Burns, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and… Read more »

‘Between hope and fear’? Ethiopia’s democratic breakthrough

     

One year after the inauguration of Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister, Ethiopia continues to be the world’s most exciting democratic breakthrough. Since his appointment, Prime Minister Abiy has initiated a… Read more »

Will a comic actor become Ukraine’s next President?

     

It seems that, on March 31, Ukraine once again received a chance to accelerate its transformation, notes Brookings analyst Sergey Aleksashenko. Ukraine hosted the first round of presidential elections, with 39… Read more »

Advancing democracy: a comparative advantage in foreign policy

     

Authoritarian populist leaders may seek to undermine democratic institutions, but recent developments in Brazil, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey provide encouragement that liberal political forces are showing some signs of life… Read more »

What next for the Rohingya? Fresh thinking needed to resolve crisis

     

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee called for the Myanmar army chief to be prosecuted for “genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes”, CIVICUS… Read more »

Ukraine: from ‘oligarchic pluralism’ to real democracy?

     

A comedian and political newcomer has won (HT: Foreign Policy) the first round of Ukraine’s presidential elections. Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian who portrayed himself as a fresh face who would… Read more »

Exporting Putinism?

     

  Russia’s “appeal as an opponent of regime change and supporter of existing governments endears it to all governments in the area, authoritarian and democratic,” Georgetown University’s Angela Stent writes… Read more »

Reporting from front lines of authoritarianism

     

In an era of resurgent authoritarianism and the growing influence of state propaganda, developing independent journalistic talent is more important than ever. The Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship is an initiative… Read more »

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Populism, nativism, protectionism & isolationism

     

Stanford University’s Hoover Institution this week launched a yearlong speaker series – “A Century of Ideas for a Free Society” – to address its mission and core values, including “individual,… Read more »