Standing up to Russia’s kleptocracy
Corruption, the trading of favors, embezzlement, and favoritism are not just endemic in Russia, but part of a kleptocratic system of rule through which Vladimir Putin controls the elite, says… Read more »
Category: rule of law
Kleptocracy: the real scandal behind the Panama Papers
A “Kleptocracy Tour” of London’s luxury houses bought by shady international tycoons and officials was set up by anti-corruption campaigner Roman Borisovich, who aims to expose dirty money fueling… Read more »
U.S. poised to end ban on arms sales to Vietnam, keep sanctions on Myanmar
The United States isn’t ready to fully shed sanctions in Myanmar, instead awaiting progress on issues including human rights as the government run by former opposition leader Aung San Suu… Read more »
Obama must raise Vietnam’s rights abuses, civil society crackdown
Thich Quang Do, the Patriarch of Vietnam’s Unified Buddhist Church (left), has called on U.S. president Barack Obama to use his forthcoming trip to the Communist state to highlight continuing… Read more »
Turkey ‘at the heart of the storm’
Reporters Without Borders placed Turkey – where more than 30 journalists are currently under arrest – 151st on a list of 180 countries in its new World Press Freedom Index,… Read more »
Prospects for compromise in Iraq
The decision by Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to have his supporters seize and then vacate parliament in Baghdad appeared to be the act of a man who—at least for now—wants to control rather than… Read more »
Indispensable reforms for Ukraine’s ‘revolution without change’
Achieving progress on reforming Ukraine’s economy would send the strongest possible message to critics who doubt the country’s ability to operate as a modern state, argues Carnegie analyst Pierre Vimont:… Read more »
China prompts criticism with new curbs on foreign NGOs
China took a major step on Thursday in President Xi Jinping’s movement away from Western influences and toward stronger social control, as it passed a new law aimed at limiting the work… 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 EU can confront the ‘Copenhagen dilemma’
The European Union is founded on a set of common principles of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. But whereas candidate Member States are vetted for their… Read more »