The prospect of Iraq becoming a beacon of democracy for a region in turmoil have faded considerably since the pullout of US military forces prompted a surge in sectarian strife and violence.
At least 63 people were killed and nearly …
Follow Us ¬
December 22, 2011
in Authoritarianism, Democratic transitions, Iraq, Islam and Politics, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy
0
Strife in Iraq, hope in Kurdistan?
December 21, 2011
in Analysis, Democratic transitions, Dissidents, Europe, Human rights, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society
0
In Praise of Václav Havel
The Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski once humorously defined himself as a conservative, liberal, socialist, a phrase that would suit Václav Havel too, wrote Jacques Rupnik, a senior research fellow at the Centre for International Studies and Research at Sciences …
December 21, 2011
in Arab Spring, Authoritarianism, Bloggers, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Human rights, Labor/labor unions, Libya, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Rule of Law
0
Optimistic Libyans ‘less burdened by authoritarian remnants’?
Libya is facing a “long and difficult” transition, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta cautioned last week, with one of his former CIA colleagues warning: “The story is not over yet”.
Similarly, President Barack Obama warned recently: “We’re under …
Radio ban adds to Hungary’s ‘democratic deficiencies’
Hungary’s national media regulator has terminated the broadcasting license of Klubradio, the country’s leading opposition radio station.
The media council’s decision is a “de facto ban” of Klubradio and a “public fraud,” Andras Arato, the station’s chairman, told …
‘Egypt’s Sharansky’ remains defiant
One of Egypt’s leading dissident bloggers today issued a defiant message from behind bars to the country’s ‘militarist’ rulers.
“Prison never changed an idea,” said Maikel Nabil Sanad (left), who was last week given a two-year jail sentence by a …
December 20, 2011
in Authoritarianism, Corruption, Democracy Assistance, Eurasia, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Rule of Law, Russia
0
Russia ‘needs rebuilding’ – not retro-Soviet smears
Russian opposition leaders today decried a Soviet-style smear campaign after a pro-Kremlin website released recordings of private phone calls in which activists discussed plans for this week’s mass protest rally in Moscow, AFP reports:
Sensationalist website Life News late …
December 20, 2011
in Analysis, Arab Spring, Authoritarianism, Democracy Assistance, Democracy Promotion, Democratic transitions, Islam and Politics, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society
0
Never mind China – is the threat to ‘dethrone democratic ideology’ closer to home?
Is the global consensus on the legitimacy of liberal democracy under threat, not least in the advanced democracies? Is the shrinking middle class also diminishing democracy’s natural base of support?
“There is a broad correlation among economic growth, social change, …
December 20, 2011
in Asia, China, Corruption, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Dissidents, Governance, Human rights, Labor/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Protests, Rule of Law
0
Fresh unrest highlights Wukan’s challenge to China’s ‘rigid’ stability
A senior Communist Party offical is due to start negotiations with leaders from the besieged village of Wukan. The talks will be “the highest-level acknowledgment yet of what has rapidly become the most serious case of social unrest in …
December 20, 2011
in Bloggers, Civil Society, Cuba, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Dictatorships, Dissidents, Global, Human rights, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society
0
Dissidents pay tribute to Havel as ‘precursor and guide to liberation’
- Václav Havel and the NED’s Carl Gershman at a Library of Congress reception in honor of the celebrated dissident-turned-president
As world leaders prepare to attend Friday’s funeral of Václav Havel, the former dissident and Czech president, some of …
December 19, 2011
in Authoritarianism, Democracy Assistance, Dissidents, Eurasia, Human rights, Labor/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society
1
Kazakh violence exposes autocratic fragility
Fifteen people were killed in violent clashes over the weekend, as rioting spread to a second town in Kazakhstan’s oil-rich Mangistau province. One person was killed and 11 wounded when police attacked demonstrators blocking a passenger train in the town …