Category: Civil Society

China’s secret ‘magic weapon’ for global soft power

     

Xi Jinping is quietly ramping up the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist party in a push for global “soft power”, The FT’s James Kynge writes in a… Read more »

Losing faith in the democratic ideal?

     

What accounts for the troubled condition of liberal democracy today? Marc F. Plattner asks in the latest issue of The Journal of Democracy: Standard explanations cite factors such as slowing… Read more »

Kenya poll highlights East Africa’s fragile democracies

     

  Kenyans vote Thursday in a repeat presidential election that has East Africa’s economic power on edge once more, AP reports: The Supreme Court shocked Africa last month by nullifying… Read more »

As APEC Summit looms, Vietnam escalates crackdown on rights campaigners

     

  Vietnam should drop all charges and immediately release student blogger Phan Kim Khanh, Human Rights Watch said today. Vietnam’s donors and regional leaders should make it clear that they will… Read more »

Call to reconvene Paris Conference as Cambodian PM says opposition will be dissolved

     

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) said on Monday it was “a fact” that the main opposition party would be dissolved as he spoke on the anniversary of the peace… Read more »

Kremlin disinformation to blame for ‘outrageous’ move against Browder?

     

A critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly had his visa revoked by the State Department, according to multiple reports, The Hill reports. British citizen Bill Browder [left] tweeted… Read more »

Media capture: how toxic mix of money and power undermines journalism

     

    What kind of media, political parties and politicians do we need to re-connect with citizens? political scientist Georgios Kolliarakis and Open Democracy’s Rosemary Bechler ask. Is the problem… Read more »

Ukraine’s ‘double existential threat’ – West’s credibility at stake

     

The West’s credibility and cohesion are at stake in Ukraine, according to a new analysis from Chatham House, the London-based foreign policy think-tank. The international community has invested heavily in… Read more »

$18bn boost for Open Society – but CEU held in ‘legal limbo’

     

George Soros, who built one of the world’s largest fortunes through a famous series of trades, has turned over nearly $18 billion to Open Society Foundations, according to foundation officials,… Read more »