Category: Civil Society

Strengthening the Liberal World Order

     

The liberal world order that was created in the aftermath of World War II has produced immense benefits for peoples across the planet, says a new analysis from the World… Read more »

Serbia’s elections: what about democratic values?

     

The victory of Prime Minster Aleksandar Vucic’s Progressive Party in Serbia’s election enables the government to continue with its proposed reform and fiscal consolidation agenda, Fitch Ratings says. But the… Read more »

Mapping Pakistan’s Internal Dynamics

     

Pakistan poses one of the world’s most significant and vexing geopolitical challenges, as its geographic position at the nexus of the Middle East and Asia, nuclear stockpile, and domestic extremist… Read more »

Non-state actors aggravate government crackdowns on civil society

     

Armed non-state actors, criminal elements and violent extremists—not just governments—are responsible for the increasing crackdown on civil society, notes Shannon N. Green, director and senior fellow of the Human Rights… Read more »

New China law a recognition of NGO power?

     

China is moving closer this week to a new law that would strictly control thousands of foreign nongovernmental organizations in the country, The New York Times reports: Foreign governments and… Read more »

Putin experiencing ‘the impotence of omnipotence’

     

Many of the apparent contradictions in Russia today can be explained by the fact that Vladimir Putin and his regime have entered what political scientist Guilliermo O’Donnell called “the impotence of… Read more »

Uighur case highlights most sustained crackdown since Tiananmen

     

Patriotic chest-thumping over the weekend in India gave way to embarrassment and bitterness as the government made a very public U-turn on issuing a visa to Uighur dissident Dolkun Isa, The Washington… Read more »

Political aftershocks hit Ecuador

     

Ecuador is still reeling from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck last week, killing 654 people, injuring 16,600, and leaving 25,000 homeless, Vice News reports: Last Wednesday, President Rafael… Read more »

Egypt: the paradox of repression

     

  Egypt’s military has deployed forces to public landmarks ahead of a protest planned for Monday. At issue: President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s agreement to relinquish two islands to Saudi Arabia, CNN reports:… Read more »

How African governments block social media

     

A small but increasing group of African governments is blocking social media during elections. The BBC’s Clare Spencer asks why and how this is done and how people get around… Read more »