The new despotism defies the standard distinction between democracy and authoritarianism, argues John Keane (above), Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney and WZB (Berlin). The “whip-smart resilience” of… Read more »
The news on Friday morning that Australia is currently being hit by a major cyber attack targeting all levels of government, political parties and businesses has focussed attention on national… Read more »
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered widespread concern about democracy, with pundits like Larry Diamond claiming that democracy is now under imminent threat as authoritarian tendencies take over. The ability of authoritarian… Read more »
What will the post-Covid state look like? For citizens in the world’s democracies, the choice ultimately will be between various forms of abdication and concerted action, says a leading analyst. … Read more »
New: The world failed after Tiananmen Square. We must not fail Hong Kong now. https://t.co/XJrE5N365Q by me @PostOpinions — Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) June 4, 2020 There is “a… Read more »
Throughout the centuries, competitors of the prevailing system have known that disaster presents them with an opportunity. Writing about the Black Death, which culled more than 40 per cent of… Read more »
It is quite possible that the coronavirus pandemic will represent the high-water mark for the appeal of the authoritarian model and of its two standard-bearers, China and Russia, according to… Read more »
Pro-democracy activists have called for mass protests against what they see as erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy entailed in a proposed national security law to ban “treason, secession, sedition and… Read more »
The key to any possible change in leadership in Russia is in the hands of the ruling elite, as it has been throughout Russia’s long history, notes Dr. Vitali Shkliarov,… Read more »
Movements and regimes inspired by liberal ideals are increasingly finding themselves on the defensive in a world increasingly vulnerable to authoritarian mischief, notes analyst Brian Stewart. Although excessive centralization is… Read more »