Category: Democratic degradation

How to stall the global democracy retreat

     

Even under the basic principles of transactional realism, it is not in America’s interests to abandon a commitment to advancing democracy, argues Pippa Norris, a lecturer in comparative politics at… Read more »

Democracy’s defense mechanisms eroding. Populism here to stay?

     

In the age of migration the important characteristic of many of Europe’s populist parties is not that they are national-conservative but that they are reactionary, notes Ivan Krastev, chairman of… Read more »

‘Multiple paths’ out of democratic regression

     

With many democracies sliding further and further toward authoritarianism, NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks with Larry Diamond of Stanford University about the global democratic recession. “The whole spectrum of regimes in… Read more »

Naked power grab an existential threat to Venezuelan democracy

     

Venezuela’s socialist government says a national election has given it a popular mandate to dramatically recast the country’s political system even as condemnations of the process have poured in from… Read more »

How modern authoritarians are breaking down democracy

     

  Modern authoritarianism has succeeded, where previous totalitarian systems failed, due to new strategies of repression, the exploitation of open societies, and the spread of illiberal policies in democratic countries… Read more »

Venezuela’s tragic meltdown: Maduro regime’s ‘mysterious resilience’

     

Venezuela’s future is at stake this week as the Organization of American States plans to meet with officials from President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, and time is running out for them… Read more »

Legislating authoritarianism in Egypt

     

Egypt’s new authoritarian regime is rapidly closing the public space—cracking down on autonomous civil society and independent political parties, asphyxiating the practice of pluralist politics, and thwarting citizens’ peaceful and… Read more »

Is populism the biggest menace to democracy?

     

Even those who recognize the sheer diversity of the threats facing democracy struggle to prioritize them, notes Dominique Moisi, Senior Counselor at the Institut Montaigne in Paris. “If, say, Islamist… Read more »

How democratic backsliding happens

     

Surveying democratic around the world, the clear lesson is: Not every wolf threatening democracy howls and bares its teeth. Many threats are stealthy, according to Aziz Huq and Tom Ginsburg,… Read more »

West’s political and normative project ‘under fire’

     

Germany’s outgoing President Joachim Gauck on Wednesday used his final major address to emphasize the importance of a resilient democracy and robust security policy, DW reports. He called today’s Germany “the best… Read more »