Category: Dictatorships

Don’t underestimate resilience of the smart new despotisms

     

The new despotism defies the standard distinction between democracy and authoritarianism, argues John Keane (above), Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney and WZB (Berlin). The “whip-smart resilience” of… Read more »

Time to confront China’s global influence: Post-COVID prospects for Beijing’s sharp power

     

The news on Friday morning that Australia is currently being hit by a major cyber attack targeting all levels of government, political parties and businesses has focussed attention on national… Read more »

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 »

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 »

Pandemic represents ‘high-water mark’ for brittle authoritarian model’s appeal?

     

It is quite possible that the coronavirus pandemic will represent the high-water mark for the appeal of the authoritarian model and of its two standard-bearers, China and Russia, according to… Read more »

Hong Kong democrats ‘left reeling’ by China’s power grab

     

Pro-democracy activists have called for mass protests against what they see as erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy entailed in a proposed national security law to ban “treason, secession, sedition and… Read more »

Postponing Putin’s Waterloo: How is he hanging on?

     

The key to any possible change in leadership in Russia is in the hands of the ruling elite, as it has been throughout Russia’s long history, notes Dr. Vitali Shkliarov,… Read more »

Democracy vs Authoritarianism Under COVID-19

     

Movements and regimes inspired by liberal ideals are increasingly finding themselves on the defensive in a world increasingly vulnerable to authoritarian mischief, notes analyst Brian Stewart. Although excessive centralization is… Read more »