Category: Democratic institutions

Kleptocracy ‘not a domestic problem’: corruption’s devastating consequences

     

Massive protests in Venezuela, Tunisia, Brazil, Morocco, and the Dominican Republic [and Slovakia, left] over the last few weeks have highlighted political graft around the globe, and the ensuing instability… Read more »

The hard edge of China’s soft power exposed

     

  Australia is reviewing its espionage laws and banning foreign political donations over concerns that China is buying influence by using rich businessmen to funnel millions of dollars in donations… Read more »

Democratic renewal will help the Free World ‘out of its defensive crouch’

     

Liberal democrats need to go on the offensive to counter the external authoritarians and internal illiberal forces undermining democratic institutions and liberal values, says a prominent commentator. Ideas have power,… 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 »

How populism helped wreck Venezuela

     

What’s the problem with populism? After all, you could argue that populism is simply the promotion of popular ideas with which elites disagree, notes analyst Uri Friedman. You could think of it as a… Read more »

‘Vibrant call’ for democratic renewal to safeguard liberal ideals

     

Democracies are becoming cynical, while the terrorist threat “offers boulevards to demagogues of all kinds,” writes Bernard Henri-Levy. “With youth no longer possessing a memory of the great struggles against… Read more »

How to counter Russia’s hybrid challenge

     

Russian disinformation is fast-moving, and government efforts tend to be localized and slower than those of the private sector and civil society, according to a new report. Think tanks and… Read more »

Counting the cost of corruption

     

A prominent judge has queried the use of public funds to buy vehicles for Nigeria’s politicians, and advised a leading advocacy group to research the issues “to see how best… Read more »

New ‘global hub’ to wage battle of ideas for democratic renewal

     

The geopolitical retreat of the West, the authoritarian resurgence, the erosion of belief in democratic values, and the loss of faith in the efficacy of democratic institutions have halted democratic… Read more »

Is professionalism the antidote to populism?

     

The perils of populism and political ignorance can be mitigated by empowering parties, career politicians and professional experts to act as “intermediaries” in order to constrain and channel public opinion,… Read more »