Russia’s ‘calcifying authoritarian kleptocracy’ contd.?
One of Europe’s formerly most respected Social Democrats has three failed marriages, a brand new wife half his age and a widely reported drinking problem. Rumor has it he is… Read more »
Author Archives: DemDigest
Why so many democracies are breaking down
Why do democracies backslide toward authoritarianism? Many scholars point to the worrisome erosion of democratic norms rooted in a social consensus about the rules of the game and civility toward… Read more »
A ‘new global battle’ of ideas? Chinese ‘connectivity politics’ as sharp power
Under President Xi Jinping, China has established a distinct and global form of connectivity politics, say analysts Paul Kohlenberg and Nadine Godehardt: This includes investment in infrastructure and international lending,… Read more »
Civil society’s legitimacy challenge here to stay
Attacks on civil society take myriad forms, from legal and regulatory measures to physical harassment, and usually include efforts to delegitimize civil society, note analysts SASKIA BRECHENMACHER and THOMAS CAROTHERS…. Read more »
Lebanon ≠ Hezbollah: only limited election success for pro-Iran party
Hezbollah and its allies have won a small majority of seats in Lebanon’s first parliamentary election in nearly a decade, boosting its influence and giving its patron Iran greater sway… Read more »
How to counter China’s sharp power efforts
A flurry of concern has grown over what is being referred to as China’s “sharp power” efforts in Europe—that is, influencing efforts disguised as soft power that hinge on manipulation and covert… Read more »
‘Fresh thinking’ needed to renew democracy
Disturbing global trends, such as populism and authoritarianism, are imperiling the basic tenets of liberal democracy, according to the Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI), an effort to reinvigorate democracy and combat… Read more »
Can Indonesia help advance Middle East democracy?
A new factor has been inserted into the equation of political reform in Egypt: a dialogue between Egypt and Indonesia on promoting democracy, notes Giora Eliraz, the author of Islam in Indonesia:… Read more »
U.S. must maintain role as democracy’s global defender, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech to the U.S. Congress was a full-throated defense of liberal democracy, which for some sparked memories of George W. Bush’s second inaugural address. But there… Read more »
Singling out Russia’s information warfare as ‘strategic threat’ to democracy
The European Commission is set to single out Russia directly for its “information warfare” as part of EU efforts to fight back against online disinformation campaigns, RFE/RL reports. “Mass online… Read more »