Authoritarianism
205 Articles
West Africa’s Democratic Progress is Slipping Away, Even as Region’s Significance Grows
Democratic norms may erode further in 2020, says Freedom House. The fundamental rights of West Africa’s nearly 400 million people are in jeopardy.
As Trump Returns from India, Others in U.S. Must Press Modi on Rights in Kashmir and Across the Country
It is critical that a broad and diverse group of powerful actors in the United States not ignore the Indian government’s turn toward authoritarianism.
Did the ECJ Just Give a Stamp of Approval to Poland’s Backsliding?
The European Court of Justice is set to rule this year or early next on Poland’s two-year-old revised disciplinary regime for judges, a central mechanism that the ruling Law…
Bringing the Rule of Law to Sudan
The country's new civilian ministers of justice and foreign affairs outlined their plans at the United Nations and appealed for international support before the window of opportunity…
EU Parliamentary Elections: A Tipping Point for Modern Europe?
Protests last weekend in Vienna and Milan reflect the unusually sharp choice of EU voters between far-right and pro-EU parties in elections May 23-26. Usually an obscure event…
Mueller Report Illustrates Trump’s Authoritarian Rhetorical Tactics
One way to evaluate Trump objectively is to examine the Mueller Report for the president’s rhetorical strategies -- ad baculum, ad hominem, and paralipsis, among others.
A Back Door to Controlling Judges: Poland’s Ruling Party Tries Another Ploy
Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party has undertaken a systematic campaign for the past three years to control the Polish judiciary, culminating in recent, failed attempts to…
India’s Digital Path: Leaning Democratic or Authoritarian?
As the two largest democracies in the world, India and the United States should be working together to combat this abuse of technology. But India has taken some troubling steps…
In 2019, Will the Global March of Authoritarianism Turn Into a Stampede … or a Slog?
The global march of authoritarianism is off to a vigorous start this year. And if 2018 and the impending milestones of 2019 are any indication, the standoff between democracy and…
Debate, Dispute, Disagree—But Please Don’t Call for Arrest
No sooner had the Nunes Memo been released than the cries began. “Lock every single one of these bastards up,” tweeted former long-time Democratic Congressman John Dingell,…
Why the First Amendment Constrains Trump’s Use of Twitter
President Donald Trump may be the first resident of the White House to be a prolific user of Twitter, but he probably won’t be the last. Indeed, government officials around…
We Are Already in a State of Emergency
As Trump reissues his “lock her up” talk against Hillary Clinton and assaults the Justice Department, FBI, and media, the Brennan Center recently had a prescient meeting about…