Blatant sports washing: FIFA awards World Cup to Saudi Arabia
FIFA’s decision to award the hosting of the Club World Cup football tournament in December 2023 to Saudi Arabia is the latest coup for the House of Saud, Forbes reports:… Read more »
Countering foreign interference – a ‘core threat’ to democracy
The European Commission today launched a public consultation on protecting the EU democratic sphere from covert foreign interference. The public consultation, open until 13 April 2023, will gather views of different… Read more »
Why is Latin America ‘heading in the wrong direction’? Hybrid regimes
Latin America is the most democratic region of the developing world. But it has long been heading in the wrong direction. Its score on the EIU Democracy Index has declined… Read more »
Cambodia joins watchlist of ‘repressive’ states
Cambodia has experienced a disturbing and pronounced decline in basic freedoms as authorities use the legal system to restrict and criminalize human rights work, youth activism, trade unions, independent journalism,… Read more »
Blinded by the rights? How democracy can win
A study commissioned by USAID found that every $10 million of democracy assistance provided between 1992-2000 contributed to a 7-point jump on the Varieties of Democracy 100-point global electoral democracy… Read more »
Re:vision – Ukraine war result will shape perceived efficacy of autocracy and democracy
The result of the war in Ukraine will shape the perceived efficacy of autocracy and democracy, one observer suggests. Is the world witnessing a revisionist moment? the Munich Security Report… Read more »
Ján Kuciak: The Murdered Journalist Who Forever Changed Slovakia
When Ján Kuciak was murdered on February 21, 2018, along with his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, an entire network leapt into action to expose their killers and continue the reporting he… Read more »
U.N. decries Tunisia’s ‘deepening crackdown’ against dissent
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, today expressed his concern over the deepening crackdown against perceived political opponents and civil society in Tunisia, including through measures taken by… Read more »
West not to blame for Ukraine war
For liberal-democratic principles to prevail over the autocratic variants, democracies must revamp their vision of a desirable international order, according to a new analysis. By invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir… Read more »
Digital dissidents enter annals of autocracy
A new generation of protesters and dissidents need help to evade government controls. Free countries can develop and spread encryption software that protects their digital communications, as well as tools… Read more »