democracy vs authoritarian

Why Putin Must Be Defeated

• Andrei Kozyrev

The more determined democracies are to avoid war, the greater the risk that autocracies will wage it.

Putin’s Big Gamble

• Robert Person

The Kremlin’s order to call up Russians to fight in Ukraine risks massive protests. It’s the riskiest decision of Putin’s rule, and it could lead to his undoing.

January 2020 issue featured in the Wall Street Journal

“To understand why liberal democracy is on the defensive,” writes William A. Galston, “there is no better place to start than the 30th-anniversary edition of the Journal of Democracy.” Read more in Galston’s full article on “Liberal Democracy’s Threats From Within.”

Why Putin’s Days Are Numbered

• Vladimir Milov

The system that Russia’s autocrat built wasn’t designed to survive the pressures it is now facing.

Why Alexei Navalny Mattered in Life and Still Matters in Death

• Kathryn Stoner

Vladimir Putin may have imprisoned, tortured, and killed the brilliant opposition leader, but even now Navalny is a threat to the corrupt autocracy he has built.

Stop Trying to “Defeat” Russia and China

• Ali Wyne
• Liana Fix

Moscow and China pose a great danger to the democratic world. But they pose threats that need to be managed, not won. Every great foreign-policy battle doesn’t end with a decisive victory.

How Venezuela Actually Becomes a Democracy

• José Ramón Morales-Arilla

The South American country may be on the verge of real change. But it isn’t going to descend into civil-war chaos like Libya. It will be difficult, imperfect, and far better than what Venezuelans have had to endure.

Why Don’t Voters Care About Local Government?

• Eguiar Lizundia
• Utpal Misra

National politics is increasingly overshadowing everything else, even as local government does more and more. Here’s how to right the balance.

Why the Defenders of Liberal Democracy Need to Stand Up

• Ghia Nodia

If liberal norms and institutions are to prevail, they need to be defended from the left and the right.

Why Ghana’s Election Matters Across Africa

• John Chin

The West African democracy is one of the continent’s most enduring, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted. It’s a bulwark for democracy beyond its borders.

“Facing Up to the Democratic Recession”

Viktor Orbán’s Newest Tool for Crushing Dissent

• Sándor Ésik

He has created a new office with massive investigatory powers that are vaguely defined and leave everyone on edge. In other words, it’s classic Orbán.

Tanzania Will Never Be the Same

• Dan Paget

Tanzania’s October election was a sham. When people rose up in protest, the regime responded with a brutal crackdown. That reign of terror marks a turning point for the country, and there is no going back.

Why Trouble Is Brewing in the Czech Republic

• Krystof Dolezal

It has long been a stalwart defender of democracy. But in this election season, the Czech Republic’s growing polarization is bringing illiberal political parties to the fore.

Can Bolivia Ever Escape the Coup Trap?

• John Chin
• Joseph Wright

The South American country was once the most coup-prone in the world. Many thought it had closed that chapter. So why did it just suffer another attempted coup?

Why Kenya’s Gen Z Has Taken to the Streets

• Judy Mbugua

The country’s young people are no longer willing to accept politics without accountability, and the government’s repressive crackdown is only fueling their movement. Gen Z is reshaping the future of Kenyan democracy.

Why Cuba’s Student Movement Is Rising

• Carolina Barrero

Cuba’s dictatorship has kept student movements under its thumb for decades. But the regime’s repressive tactics have inadvertently breathed new life into a new generation of student activists. These young people are willing to fight for the island’s freedom.

A Dictator’s Day in Court

• Nate Grubman

Tunisia’s president is looking to strengthen his chokehold on the country.

Why Democracy Survives Populism, the Dangers of AI, Sharp Power in the Gulf, and More

Why are would-be strongmen so unlikely to succeed in undoing democracy? What steps can we take to protect democracies from advanced AI? Should we be worried about the Gulf states’ growing influence?

How Qatar Became a World Leader in Sportswashing

• Sarath K. Ganji

The government has spent billions preparing to host the 2022 World Cup. Never mind the abusive labor practices and human rights violations. It’s betting that your love of the “beautiful game” will make you more fond of this tiny Gulf state, too.