Latest in democracy
The deterioration of human rights in Tunisia long precedes the country’s current instability and democratic backsliding.
A review of David Allen, “Every Citizen a Statesman: The Dream of a Democratic Foreign Policy in the American Century” (Harvard University Press, 2023).
Brazilian Supreme Court justices recently decided to intervene to prevent an authoritarian government, which could be the first move in a process of democratic consolidation or, by contrast, the seeds of a later autocracy using judicial authority in its favor.
In 2022, no discussion of foreign policy should occur without considering the role of major tech companies. The costs of passivity in coordination are high, and missed opportunities for democracy and human rights promotion abound.
Alan Rozenshtein spoke with Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing about how the current landscape of social media and cable news fuels our democracy, but also pushes it in an illiberal authoritarian direction.
A review of Richard L. Hasen, “Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics—and How to Cure It” (Yale University Press, 2022).
Putin's brutal war not only aims to reclaim a sovereign democracy under his autocratic rule but also signals globally the strength of the authoritarian grip. The democratic community’s response sends a message to Putin and to other authoritarians with similar ambitions.
The Supreme Court should shift its approach to emergency powers (defined broadly to include national security) to take into account the role they can play in undermining democracy.
If the United States intends to address the lure of authoritarianism domestically, it should devote deliberate attention to making the American people safer at home.
The far-right party Alternative for Germany has proved adept at influencing German society, even if its electoral prospects are less than rosy.