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Where Conspiracy Theories Come From

• Scott Radnitz

There is nothing inherently menacing or antidemocratic about conspiracy theories. They can even be a source of amusement. The trouble comes when political elites weaponize them to invite violence.

‘Their Control Cannot Be Flawless’

What are the true lessons from Tiananmen Square? Why does nonviolent resistance offer the best chance of challenging the CCP? Hu Ping, a leading Chinese dissident, reflects on the mistakes that were made and what it will take to succeed next time.

Election Results—April 2024

Reports on elections in Croatia, Kuwait, the Maldives, Senegal, Slovakia, the Solomon Islands, and South Korea.

Why Indonesia’s Democracy Is in Danger

• Thomas B. Pepinsky

Indonesian voters have made Prabowo Subianto, a special-forces commander with a dark past, their next president. Even as voters flocked to the polls, his election is a harbinger of democracy’s decline.

Hope and Fear in Syria

• Elizabeth Parker-Magyar

The brutal regime of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad fell in a week. Syrians have been preparing for this moment for years.

Liberation Technology: Whither Internet Control?

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.

Georgia’s Make-or-Break Election

• Ghia Nodia

Later this month the country will be holding an absolutely pivotal election. The stakes? Whether Georgia will remain anchored to the West or become Vladimir Putin’s newest satellite state.

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 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.

“The Myth of Democratic Recession”

How Tragedy Sparked a Protest Movement

• John Chin

Serbs from all walks of life have had enough with their corrupt, inept, and increasingly authoritarian government. Will Serbia’s president be able to withstand the crisis?

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The BJP Claimed This Financial Tool Would Clean Up Indian Politics. It Did the Opposite.

• Vipul Mudgal

“Electoral bonds” were supposed to make political contributions transparent. Instead they became a form of legalized corruption, funneling huge sums and making the political playing field even more uneven.

For Xi Jinping, the Economy Is No Longer the Priority

• Guoguong Wu

Beijing’s focus has been on strong and steady economic growth for decades. But China’s leader has just put an end to that era. For Xi, it’s only about power—at home and abroad.

The World Has Become Flatter for Authoritarian Regimes

• Christopher Walker

They are benefiting from a world that has grown more hostile for democracy and human rights. But it doesn’t need to be the case. Democracies need to double down on their own competitive advantage.

How Thai Activists Outsmarted the Generals

• Srdja Popovic
• Steve Parks

The regime tilted the playing field to its advantage, but it didn’t matter. Thailand’s opposition won with creativity, shrewd tactics, and a strategy that united the people.

Democracy Without Liberalism?

• Marc F. Plattner

We have long assumed democracy and liberalism went hand in hand. But in truth there have always been tensions between them, and the rise of illiberal democracy cannot be ignored.

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.

How to Dictator-Proof Your Money

• Alex Gladstein

Cash is king, even if you are an activist leading a democratic movement against some of the world’s worst dictators. That’s why Bitcoin has quickly become the currency of choice for dissidents working everywhere.