Author Archives: DemDigest

The Democracy Promotion Paradox

     

The Democracy Promotion Paradox raises difficult but critically important issues by probing the numerous inconsistencies and paradoxes that lie at the heart of the theory and practice of democracy promotion, The… Read more »

Russia: ‘Foreign Agents’: Mythical Enemies and Society’s Real Losses

     

A leading U.S. Senator is expressing concern over threats to Russia’s civil society, including independent citizen election monitoring group Golos, ahead of Russia’s September 2016 parliamentary elections. “I am deeply concerned… Read more »

China’s hard line a sign of weakness not strength

     

  In an illuminating anecdote that David Shambaugh heard from two Chinese officials who witnessed an encounter between Hu Jintao and Russian leader Vladimir Putin with Beijing’s increasingly harsh scrutiny of… Read more »

Venezuela: OAS should invoke Democratic Charter

     

The Organization of American States should invoke the Inter-American Democratic Charter to press Venezuela to restore judicial independence and the protection of fundamental rights, Human Rights Watch said today in… Read more »

Russia’s Road to Terror and Dictatorship

     

In December 2013, David Satter became the first American journalist to be expelled from Russia since the Cold War. The Moscow Times said it was not surprising he was expelled,… Read more »

Nobel Laureate depicts ‘history of the Russian-Soviet soul’

     

A citizen of Belarus who was born in Ukraine and writes in Russian, Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich takes as her subject the “history of the Russian-Soviet soul”, The Times Literary… Read more »

Educate journalists on digital security tools

     

As cyber attacks become more common for journalists and news organizations, more cyber security courses and guidelines for protection will follow. Yet, according to a researcher studying the issue, most… Read more »

Inclusive Institutions for Development Impact

     

Social accountability has gained increasing importance in the development sector over the past two decades, notes the World Bank’s Global Partners Forum. Development partners—including governments, private sector and citizens—recognize the… Read more »