autocracy
40 Articles

China’s Global ‘Concierge Services’ to Strengthen Fellow Authoritarians
China's intrusive military, economic, and diplomatic aid to Russia, Iran, and others spreads autocratic practices such as secrecy, censorship, surveillance, and corruption.
The Just Security Podcast: Hungary After Orban
Zsuzsanna Vegh joins Viola Gienger to explore the Hungarian opposition's win, Magyar's priorities, and how Hungary’s domestic and foreign policies might change.

1,000 Days and Counting: A Father, A Professor, and a Government That Won’t Let Go
The son of Azerbaijan economist and anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu appeals for the release of his father and uncle, both political prisoners.

Writers’ Voices Increasingly Missing in Iran Protests As Regime Targets Democracy Advocates
As Iranians protested for freedom, the regime intensified its assault on writers and dissenters, silencing key voices like Narges Mohammadi and Ali Asadollahi.

When Loyalties Shift: Americans’ Growing Noncooperation with Federal Abuses of Power
Americans' refusals to accept apparent abuses of power by the federal government indicate that the political winds may be starting to shift.

Distorted Laws on “Foreign Agents” Threaten Democracy: Mobilizing a Response
Civil society can share knowledge, boost public support, and build coalitions to resist the spread of autocratic "foreign agents" laws.

After Another Sham Election in Georgia, the Country’s Citizens Persist
Georgians will fight for their democracy, as the ruling party now becomes one of the world's many paranoid, insecure dictatorships that know their days are numbered.

Autocracy, Corruption, and Decline: Why Hungary and Orbanism Must Never be a Model for the U.S.
Adopting Orban's model would reshape the U.S. into a country that shares Hungary's weakened checks and balances, corruption, and stumbling economy.

From War to Control: How the Recent Iran-Israel Conflict Risks Deepening the Islamic Republic’s Repression
The ceasefire may stop the bombs, but it will not reverse the repression that has long defined Islamic Republic’s internal trajectory.

Big Tents and Collective Action Can Defeat Authoritarianism
The journey from individual angst to collective action and shared humanity takes time, vision, and commitment. Cases around the world show it is also the pathway to victory.

When the Free Press Falters: What America Can Learn from Russia’s Descent
The unraveling of press freedom in the United States mirrors Putin's capture of the Russian media, write two experts who know both terrains.

Supporting Freedom and a Foreign Aid Freeze are Incompatible — But Perhaps the Point? A Case Study
The Trump administration’s action undermines bipartisan efforts to support freedom fighters and enables corrupt autocrats.