Author Archives: DemDigest

Russia’s refined disinfo ops keep it ahead of the West

     

  Russia’s continued refinement of its information operations may keep it ahead of the United States, according to a new analysis, Russia’s Improved Information Operations: From Georgia to Crimea. “One… Read more »

Non-state actors feed failing states, new global disorder

     

  Non-state groups from ISIS to transnational crime syndicates deploy an assortment of tactics and new technologies that strengthen their power to organize, mobilize, fight, and wield influence. As a… Read more »

How illiberals, uncivil society transition from protest to power

     

Civil society activists have often struggled to make the transition from protest to politics, to effect a shift from social movement to party in power. Illiberal and authoritarian movements –… Read more »

Liu Xiaobo and the Future of China

     

Liu Xiaobo died on July 13, 2017, a victim of intolerance by a fearful Chinese government that imprisoned him for his leadership role in writing and organizing Charter 08. That… Read more »

Is Big Tech an ‘existential threat’ to democracy?

     

Are Big Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon becoming a threat to democracy?  The online tumult of the 2016 election fed into a growing suspicion of Silicon Valley’s dominance… Read more »

The Power and the Story: media’s claims on democratic legitimacy

     

  Journalism is in a delicate state in the world. The time at the turn of the century when it seemed to be secure in freedom, is gone. As June… Read more »

Strategic patience needed in Af-Pak stand-off

     

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary met China’s special envoy on Afghan affairs on Monday, a foreign office spokesman said, a day after Islamabad canceled a scheduled visit by a top U.S. official,… Read more »

Schools of democracy: labor unions mobilize against authoritarian regimes, for basic rights

     

Reports that the Philippines’ labor movement is beginning to mobilize against President Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarian regime are a timely reminder that unions are often in the forefront of actions to… Read more »