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About the Event

Autocratic powers like China and Russia have long attempted to undermine democratic institutions and entrench authoritarianism through their engagement abroad. Today’s moment, however, is different. Fueled by new geopolitical alignments, the erosion of international human rights standards, and an ever-present technology competition, China and Russia find themselves in a new, more permissive international environment. This new context supercharges their capacities to frustrate democratic actors and entrench authoritarianism worldwide. What does the newest wave of authoritarian influence strategies look like, and how can pro-democracy actors respond?

A new report by NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, entitled Testing the Limits: China and Russia’s Authoritarian Influence at Scale in a New Period of Impunity, examines breaking trends in the global authoritarian influence strategies of Moscow and Beijing, and how these strategies impact everyday citizens and strengthen authoritarian practices in Angola. At this official launch event, the report’s authors shared their findings and explored grassroots-level responses.

Speakers

Florindo Chivucute
Founder and Executive Director, Friends of Angola

Alexander Cooley
Claire Tow Professor of Political Science, Barnard College at Columbia University; Non-Resident Fellow, Kennan Institute, Barnard College, Columbia University

Caroline Costello
Assistant Director, Global China Hub, Atlantic Council

Cassandra Emmons
Global Advisor, Democratic Resilience and Data Analysis, International Foundation for Electoral Systems

Brian Joseph
Executive Vice President, Programs and Impact, National Endowment for Democracy

Miriam Lanskoy
Senior Director, Eurasia, National Endowment for Democracy

William Nee
Senior Manager for East Asia, National Endowment for Democracy

Kevin Sheives
Director, International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy

Manpreet Singh Anand
Regional Director, Asia-Pacific, National Democratic Institute

Damon Wilson
President & CEO, National Endowment for Democracy