Freedom House, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
have organized a conference marking the release of a new report: Undermining Democracy: 21st Century Authoritarians. As they note:
In recent years, a distinct set of powerful authoritarian states – including Iran, China, Russia, Venezuela, and Pakistan – have advanced alternatives to democratic models of government. Their efforts to undermine democracy are organized, sophisticated and well-resourced. Call it “Authoritarianism 2.0.” In order to better understand how these regimes are adapting authoritarianism to a 21st century setting, Freedom House, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia commissioned some of the most highly-regarded experts on these countries to analyze their key methods and strategies of control.
It looks like a stimulating discussion that extends the terms of debate over the backlash against democracy, although one might quibble with the inclusion of Pakistan – a failing state perhaps, but powerful and authoritarian? The rationale for its inclusion, we’re told, Pakistan is enabling illiberalism as much through state weakness – and the deliberate intent of the ISI intelligence agency – which is enabling extremists pursuing anti-democratic objectives.
It is also pretty evident that the authoritarians’ efforts to undermine democracy are “organized, sophisticated and well-resourced”, but I hope there will be some discussion as to whether they present genuinely “advanced alternatives to democratic models of government”. Certainly, our colleague Marc Plattner – amongst others – has his doubts.
In any case, details as follows:
June 4, 2009 9:15 a.m. — 12:45 p.m. Room SD-124, Senate Dirksen Office Building, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Featured Speakers: James Traub, Contributing Writer, The New York Times Magazine, Author, The Freedom Agenda: Why America Must Spread Democracy (Just Not the Way George Bush Did) [2008]; Robert Kagan, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Author, The Return of History and the End of Dreams [2008]; Peter Beinart, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, Author, The Good Fight: Why Liberals – And Only Liberals – Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again [2006]. Country Analyses: CHINA: Perry Link, University of California at Riverside; IRAN: Abbas Milani, Stanford University (by video); RUSSIA: Daniel Kimmage, Homeland Security Policy Institute, George Washington University; VENEZUELA: Javier Corrales, Amherst College. Comments by: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KA), Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL). RSVP to dc-response@rferl.org or by telephone to (202) 828-7211, or by fax to (202) 457-6992.
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