Tag: authoritarianism
Debunking Putin’s Alternative “History”
February 23, 2024 | Post
Two years on from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, let’s examine and debunk some of the bogus justifications put forth by the fascist regime in Moscow and Putin’s alternative “history” that he uses in his attempts to delegitimize the Ukrainian nation.
David Boaz: ‘Fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it’
February 21, 2024 | Post
At LibertyCon International, David Boaz urged the liberty movement to “fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it.”
Remembering Alexei Navalny: a champion of freedom in Russia
February 16, 2024 | Post
Today, the world mourns the loss of Alexei Navalny, a fearless advocate for liberty and democracy in Russia, who died in a Siberian penal colony on February 16, 2024, aged 47.
Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi: the tragedy of executed dissidents in Iran
February 8, 2024 | Post
Once again, on January 23, 2024, Iranian authorities executed two political dissidents, Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi, after unjust trials.
These latest tragedies shed light on the ongoing pattern concerning Iran’s use of the death penalty in persecuting both opponents of the regime and ethnic minorities.
The Iranian dictatorship does not deserve to chair the Human Rights Council
December 11, 2023 | Post
A government that quashes open discourse and stifles diverse perspectives — as the Iranian dictatorship does — is completely ill-suited to lead discussions on social issues and human rights on the international stage.
Remembering Ibrahim Qashoush: a brutal story of musical resistance and regime violence
October 27, 2023 | Post
Although highly unknown beyond the Free Syria movement, an often-forgotten cause, Ibrahim Qashoush was a popular singer during the beginning of the Syrian Revolution. He soon became one of the countless victims of the Assad regime’s brutality. This is his story.
Why freedom matters more than safety
October 9, 2023 | Post
Safety is, of course, to be valued, but some important questions do arise, particularly in the context of our 21st-century challenges: Are we sacrificing too much freedom in the pursuit of safety? Is freedom more important than safety, and if so, why?
How Alan Turing’s tragic tale epitomizes LGBTQ+ persecution by governments
June 13, 2023 | Post
Alan Turing was an English mathematician, cryptanalyst, and computer scientist who played a pivotal role in deciphering intercepted enemy communications during World War II. However, Turing was later persecuted by the British state due to his homosexuality. His story epitomizes the persecution of LGBTQ+ by governments
An assault on anonymity: the consequences of Vietnam’s new social media policy
June 2, 2023 | Post
In Vietnam, a new regulation will take effect by January 2024 requiring all social media users to verify their identities in order to use online platforms. This move is a blatant violation of the right to free expression and privacy.
Political Islam and the violation of individual rights
April 5, 2023 | Post
Can you imagine living in a country where your government can kill you for not following a state-imposed dress code; or jail you for ten years for sharing a video of yourself dancing with your fiance; or kidnap you for daring to speak your mind? Iranians live in such a place.
Is Covid China’s Chernobyl?
April 4, 2023 | Post
Just as COVID has changed our lives in many ways since 2020, Chernobyl changed the world in 1986. These were two great disasters emanating from two major communist nations. The results and consequences of both will affect us for a very long time, maybe even forever.
As many will know, Chernobyl was instrumental in accelerating the end of the Soviet Union and is critical to our understanding of this period. However, could COVID be the key to understanding, in the future, perhaps, the end of Communist China?
The TikTok dilemma: privacy risks vs the importance of free choice
March 30, 2023 | Post
TikTok has been under intense scrutiny for its data collection and sharing practices, with concerns raised about the platform’s relationship with the Chinese government and its potential for mass surveillance of Americans. But should it be banned?
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the changing role of government
March 24, 2023 | Post
Alongside economic devastation and a mental health crisis, another legacy of lockdowns will be changed perceptions of the role of government
Georgia’s foreign agent law casts an ominous shadow on its European aspirations
March 8, 2023 | Post
The “foreign agent law” is perilous for all of Georgian society and will derail future progress in many areas, including human rights and anti-corruption. The Georgian people will do everything to make their voices heard and defend the national and European ideals that promise us a better future.
The Misuse of Social Media Act: a threat to freedom of expression in Uganda
February 27, 2023 | Post
The provisions in the Misuse of Social Media Act passed by Uganda’s Parliament are highly restrictive and pose a direct threat to digital freedom. Here’s a quick breakdown of how and why…
The KGB still runs Russia and always has
January 18, 2023 | Post
The KGB still runs Russia. In its structure of power, the same organization that inflicted terror in Soviet times is still calling the shots.
Checking in on China: why hard times lie ahead
July 15, 2022 | Post
The past couple of decades may have suggested that China’s competent, authoritarian style of governance may be an alternative model for the world. However, the regime is now faced with the consequences of its actions with a slim off ramp to preserve progress and power at the same time.
People say Putin is pragmatic; here is why they are wrong
June 23, 2022 | Post
Students For Liberty’s Director of Alumni Programs, Jorge Jraissati, gives his thoughts on the ideology of Vladimir Putin, its history, and its ongoing effects.
What’s been happening with the protests in Kazakhstan?
January 14, 2022 | Post
In recent weeks, the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan has seen anti-government protests on a scale not seen during its three decades of independence
The post-Soviet world, 30 years on
December 28, 2021 | Post
In the 30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 15 former Soviet republics have followed widely different trajectories.
Australia’s draconian lockdown restrictions must end
August 25, 2021 | Post
The Australian government’s heavy handed response to dissent against its draconian lockdown restrictions is unacceptable for a supposedly free society.
Pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar suffer brutal repression
March 10, 2021 | Post
Since the military coup on February 1, pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar are suffering brutal repression and human rights violations.
Why the Worst Get On Top: Class of 2016
August 26, 2016 | Post
Duke University’s great historian of thought and Hayek scholar Bruce Caldwell sent the following e-mail to me, which I share here with Bruce’s kind permission (link added): Has anyone in the blogosphere noticed the chilling similarity between Hayek’s description in the Road To Serfdom (in the chapter titled “Why the Worst Get on Top“) of […]
Are you an authoritarian?
February 10, 2016 | Post
In a recent Politico story, Matthew MacWilliams identified the one trait which predicts if you’re a Trump supporter. It wasn’t gender, race, age, income, or religion. It’s authoritarianism. Max Borders has broken down what makes someone authoritarian over at FEE’s blog in a great piece: Beware Your Inner Authoritarian. He explores the foundations of people’s […]