Latest Articles
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The Beautification of 21st Century Wars
In this interview, John Keane argues that the public beautification of war is among the oddest features of the terrible meta wars of our century. With the help of communications media, war becomes an elaborately staged, picturesque tableau designed to transfix audiences and wall them off from war’s horrors…
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From Democratic Leader to Autocratic Example: The Global Impact of U.S. Backsliding
In a strategic barrage of executive orders, President Trump has launched a ‘flood the zone’ tactic, overwhelming democratic processes and throwing governance into disarray. This approach, reflective of autocratic tendencies, has been evident since his inauguration, with numerous directives swiftly signed, ranging from withdrawing from international agreements to imposing broad domestic changes. These actions threaten…
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Tunisia’s Revolution 14 Years On: ‘The Emperor Has No Clothes’
This article was first published by Al Jazeera on 15 January 2025 and is republished with permission. The Arab Spring did not bring democracy to the region, but it remains a beacon of hope for struggling Arabs Fourteen years ago, on January 14, 2011, Tunisians filled Habib Bourguiba Boulevard, the central thoroughfare of Tunis, with cries of…
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The Death of Accountability: How America’s Democratic Crisis Threatens Freedom Worldwide
When former U.S. President Richard Nixon declared, “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal,” Americans recoiled in horror. Today, that shocking claim is inching closer to legal reality. Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report, released in part by a judge just before the inauguration, doesn’t just confirm Donald Trump’s attempts to…
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The US in 2024: An Election That Worked and a Democracy That Doesn’t
This policy brief examines the divisive, hyper-polarized, us-or-them way politics is viewed in the United States. One test of a democracy is whether or not the voters get to choose their leaders. While, at this most basic level, the 2024 US presidential election was a success, it’s easy to understand why both sides view contemporary…
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