Putin’s re-election assured, the succession fight begins
Ask Russian analysts to describe the coming presidential election campaign, and their answers contain a uniform theme: a circus, a carnival, a sideshow. What they do not call… Read more »
Search Results for: Russia
How Democracies Die
We tend to think of democracies dying at the hands of men with guns. By and large, however, overt dictatorships have disappeared across much of the world. Violent seizures of… Read more »
‘Struggle Over Scripture’ Could new agency tackle ideological problem of jihadism?
Claims by groups such as ISIL and Al Qaeda to have theological backing for their brands of violent extremism are going virtually unchallenged by mainstream Islamic scholars, according to a… Read more »
China’s ‘sharp power’ obscures ‘cultural genocide’ in Tibet
China’s growing power projection in the fields of media, education, and political values and ideas is sometimes called soft-power. But a study of rising authoritarian influence, released today by the… Read more »
Ukraine’s oligarchs strike back, challenging anti-corruption reform
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has called for the resignation of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a defiant impromptu rally in front of parliament in Kyiv, shortly after his supporters freed him… Read more »
Montenegro poll shows anti-Western tilt, highlighting autocrats’ illiberal ‘spoiler’ role in Western Balkans?
A new survey of public opinion in Montenegro reveals widespread opposition to NATO and U.S. involvement in Europe’s security as well as dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. According… Read more »
Egypt’s ‘classic authoritarian bargain’ proves to be the worst ever counterterrorism strategy
When it comes to the Middle East these days, the buzzword in the international community is “stabilization,” as opposed to “transition,” notes Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European… Read more »
Information Disorder: disinformation, democracy and post-truth politics
The European Union will spend €1.1 million on training diplomats to monitor fake news, amid growing alarm on Russian propaganda, EUobserver reports: The funds, as well as related measures… Read more »
Combatting kleptocracy? Why nondemocratic states can’t deliver on corruption
Targeted, personal sanctions aimed at oligarchs create a genuine problem for Vladimir Putin’s hold on power, notes analyst Natalie Nougayrède. Russia is an authoritarian kleptocracy. The elite’s loyalty to the… Read more »
How to stop democracies money laundering for 21st Century authoritarians
To the detriment of U.S. foreign policy, gaps in anti-money laundering regulations have enabled kleptocracy and in turn, strengthened authoritarianism, state failure, civil unrest, and social degradation across the world, notes… Read more »