Building democratic alternatives to extremism in Algeria
Algerian law requires the next parliament to be made up of 30 percent women — but political parties across the spectrum have struggled to come up with enough female candidates… Read more »
Search Results for: Civil Society
How central Europe’s high hopes gave way to creeping authoritarianism
The central European states were the vanguards of communism’s collapse in the late 1980s, prompting a sense of inevitability about democracy’s benign coming, reinforced by the diverse figures who stepped… Read more »
Sudan frees human rights activists
Human rights and democracy advocates are expressing relief at the release of Sudanese civil society activists convicted of publishing fake reports or spying: Khalafalla Al-Afif, Midhat Hamdan and Mustafa Adam… Read more »
Autocrats excel at anti-democratic propaganda
In contrast to inward-leaning democracies, which have an “End of History” sense of complacency, today’s autocrats are vibrant internationalists in the ideas sphere, notes Christopher Walker, vice president for studies… Read more »
Vague moderate Islam no antidote to extremism
Its ambiguity has made “moderate Islam” a useful banner for conservative Arab regimes to pursue their agendas at home and abroad, argues analyst Annelle Sheline. By buying into assumptions that… Read more »
Eastern Europe’s populists emboldened in limiting ‘foreign’ NGOs
Populist leaders across Central and Eastern Europe are mounting simultaneous crackdowns on nongovernmental organizations that promote open government, aid refugees and often serve as checks on authoritarian governments, The New… Read more »
‘Revolutionary situation unfolding’ in Belarus
A tax on “social parasites” is stirring up public angst in Belarus, according to reports. A classic revolutionary situation may be unfolding in Europe’s last dictatorship, notes analyst Leon Aron:… Read more »
Azerbaijan: no progress on key reforms
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) should suspend Azerbaijan’s membership for failing to carry out key reforms, a coalition of 21 groups including Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, PEN International,… Read more »
China cracks down on labor as workers lose leading advocate
China’s crackdown on labor activists is well depicted in a new film, an exposé that coincides with the passing of one of Chinese workers’ most impressive international advocates. The conviction last… Read more »
A critical moment for Syria’s Democratic Forces
A film about The White Helmets, Syria’s “largest civil society organization operating in areas outside of government control,” last night won an Oscar for best documentary short. The award coincides… Read more »