democracy vs authoritarian

Why History Is Repeating Itself in Thailand

• Wichuta Teeratanabodee
• Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom

Thai politics appears to be in a loop, with the military keeping people’s democratic hopes under wraps. But there is reason to believe the streets won’t be quiet for long.

Putin’s War of Recolonization

• Renée de Nevers
• Brian D. Taylor

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t just another land grab. It’s an attempt to recolonize lost empire, and threatens to return us to the age of conquest.

Why Ukraine’s Millions of Displaced People Will Define Its Future

• Danilo Mandić

Most are Russian speakers from the east, and once harbored sympathies for Moscow. If the country embraces them, they could form the bedrock of a free and open Ukrainian society.

Iran Erupts

• Peyman Asadzade

Iranians are once again flooding the streets in protest. How is this wave of demonstrations different?

Why Germany’s Far Right Is Winning Big

• Michael Bröning

The far-right Alternative for Germany is no longer a mere protest party. It’s tapping into widespread discontent and is surprisingly popular with young voters. Even more, it is reshaping the political future of Germany.

The Pitfalls of Power Sharing

• Alexander Noyes

People are calling for a so-called unity government to stem the violence in Mozambique. But there is a better way to set the country on the right course.

Is Germany Headed to a Political Crisis?

• Michael Bröning

After losing a confidence vote and triggering snap elections, can Olaf Scholz lead mainstream parties back to power, or will more radical forces prevail?

Will Egypt Be the Next Syria?

• Shady ElGhazaly Harb

The pillars of Sisi’s regime are straining, and Assad’s collapse is raising the pressure. If Egypt is going to follow Syria’s path, these are signals to watch.

Election Results—January 2024

Reports on elections in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Serbia, Sint Maarten, and Taiwan.

Election Results—June and July 2024

Reports on elections in Belgium, Bulgaria, the European Union, France, Iran, Mauritania, Mongolia, San Marino, and the United Kingdom.

Comparing the Arab Revolts: The Lessons of 1989

The Empty Promise of Iran’s New President

• Ladan Boroumand

Masoud Pezeshkian won’t be a “reformer” in any genuine sense. Like all Iranian presidents, he has pledged his loyalty to Iran’s supreme leader. What he really offers is a softer version of Iran’s grim repression.

Alexei Navalny, In His Own Words

“Every opportunity must be used to speak out . . . I love Russia. My intellect tells me that it is better to live in a free and prosperous country than in a corrupt and impoverished one.”

Orbán Is Isolating Hungary from the World

• Sándor Ésik

The Hungarian leader appears to be working overtime at fraying the country’s ties with even its longstanding friends and allies — and the strain is beginning to show.

The Signs of Deconsolidation

A Dangerous Façade

• Agneska Bloch

Marine Le Pen has remade her image to obscure her far-right populism. There is a real risk French voters won’t see through it.

Putin’s Other Failed War

• Roman Badanin

The Russian leader declared war on his country’s independent journalists. But Russian media outsmarted him by taking their operations overseas. They are now reaching more people than ever before.

Putin’s Incredible Shrinking Victory Parade

• Olexiy Minakov

How does a Russian autocrat celebrate Victory Day while losing a war? Expect lies, myths, and propaganda.

Will the German Center Hold?

• Michael Bröning

Although Germans flooded the polls, the country is deeply polarized and politically fragmented. Germany’s centrists need to deliver on voters’ concerns. If they don’t, the far-right AfD is waiting in the wings.

How a Pastor Found the Courage to Defy a Dictator

• Evan Mawarire

Evan Mawarire never thought of himself as a revolutionary. In a gripping new memoir, he tells the story of how he went from a humble clergyman to the leader of a movement that helped the Zimbabwean people find their voice.