Kremlin hopes for ‘Post-West’ world order recede
Europeans are waking up to the fact that Russia is trying to do by peaceful means what the Soviet Union once threatened by violent ones: overthrow democratic governments, James Kirchik… Read more »
The civic media crisis: what can be done?
The media, civil society, and democracy are under unprecedented duress around the world. It is important to see these phenomena as interconnected—to understand that the decline of the civic media… Read more »
Democratic modernity ‘not enough’ for CEE
The illiberal, populist drift in Central and Eastern Europe is a consequence of disillusion with the European Union as well as historical legacies, says a prominent analyst. “These countries had… Read more »
What Africans think of elections
In a new video, Afrobarometer shares citizens’ opinions about and experiences with elections in their countries, Kim Yi Dionne writes for The Washington Post. The video draws on results from… Read more »
‘Normalised’ Cuba kills dissident in civil society crackdown
At least 482 arbitrary arrests” of peaceful dissidents took place in Cuba in the month of February, says the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN). The figure was… Read more »
Russia’s ‘managed thaw’: events suggest Putin not all-powerful
This week, two political prosecutions in Russia were quashed — to much applause, notes Pavel Chikov (left), a leading human rights lawyer. But it’s too early to talk about positive… Read more »
China trying to provide ideological alternative to Western liberalism?
As if any reminder were needed, delegates to China’s ceremonial parliament were repeatedly told in no uncertain terms this week what job No. 1 is: “Follow the leadership of the… Read more »
‘Secularizing Islamists’ – lessons for countering violent extremism
The experience of the Islamic political parties in North Africa shows that they are, just like non-Islamic parties, capable of change and adaptation to changing circumstances, says Mohammed Masbah, an… Read more »
Russia’s RT: Is it more K.G.B. than BBC?
…..The New York Times asks: RT is part of the reality of the 21st century, said Peter Pomerantsev, who wrote a book three years ago that described Russia’s use of… Read more »
Kazakhstan’s ‘authoritarian lite’ regime hints at cosmetic change
Kazakhstan’s leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is the country’s only president since independence — elected five times with 97.5 percent of the vote. Nazarbayev has created a kind of “authoritarian lite” system… Read more »