Fears of COVID-19’s damaging impact on democracy were overstated, argues one observer. But whether you call it democratic erosion, democratic breakdown, or de-democratization, the pre-existing condition remains a threat, others… Read more »
It is the internal transformation of both democratic and authoritarian regimes, rather than transition to democracy or tyranny, that will be the real political legacy of Covid-19, says a prominent… Read more »
In their fight against the coronavirus, some governments are introducing digital surveillance and data collection tools that could pose a lasting threat to citizens’ rights, according to a new report… Read more »
The pandemic has had two dramatic effects in the West, reports suggest: It has spotlighted shortcomings in Western democracies, where death rates have been far higher than in many Asian… Read more »
Covid-19 has had unambiguously tragic human consequences in Brazil, which have been exacerbated by President Jair Bolsonaro’s “executive underreach” in failing to follow public-health guidance, notes Amy Erica Smith, Amy… Read more »
Excessive use of emergency powers and limitations of media freedoms have raised concerns that Covid-19 is infecting democracy itself, a new analysis observes. How do government responses to Covid-19 violate… Read more »
Yes, says Freedom House (above). “The authoritarians can act worse under the cover of the pandemic because the democracies are not united in effective, moral, concerted leadership,” adds Irwin Cotler, the… Read more »
The world’s democracies are showing signs of strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Freedom House analysis. The report, titled Democracy Under Lockdown, says “the COVID-19 pandemic has… Read more »
The most likely outcome for a post-Covid world order in the decade ahead will not be a unipolar order or a bipolar Cold War-style competition, but a loose multipolarity, according… Read more »
Can parliaments learn from the past six months to become stronger and more effective institutions that impose checks and balances on executive powers to better serve the people? analysts ask… Read more »