March 2020

Cultivating democratic resilience

related content:

• Power 3.0 Blog post entitled “The Lie is Not the Story: Practicing Journalism in the Disinformation Age” by Dean Jackson
• Power 3.0 Blog post entitled “The Invisible Thumb: Studying the Market for Social Media Manipulation” by Sebastian Bay
• Forum Q&A: Former Reagan-Fascell Democracy fellow George Sarpong on “Defending Media Freedom During Ghana’s Digital Migration“
• Power 3.0 Podcast episode “Breaking the Truth: A Conversation with Samuel Woolley”
• Issue Brief: “The Demand Side of the Disinformation Crisis” by Dean Jackson
• Power 3.0 Blog post: “‘Confirmation Bias’: Political Tribalism as a Driver of Disinformation” by Péter Krekó
• Power 3.0 Blog post entitled “Demand for Deceit: Why Do Some People Share and Consume Disinformation?” by Dean Jackson

JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Celebrates 30 years

“Democracy Embattled” was the theme of the Journal of Democracy‘s 30th anniversary issue, in which leading democracy scholars and analysts reflect on democracy’s prospects in the shifting global landscape. The International Forum celebrated the occasion with an event at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

Defending Democracy in an Era of DIgital Disruption

NED’s Christopher Walker delivered the prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville lecture at the Catholic University of Portugal on March 5 in which he discussed the factors leading to the current era of digital disruption, emerging challenges in the present digital revolution, and how democracies and civil society can respond.

Power 3.0: EGYPT AND CHINA’S TELECOMS: A CONCERNING COURTSHIP

Allison McManus’ Power 3.0 Blog post traces the increasing levels of Chinese investment in telecommunications and surveillance technology sectors in Egypt, raising concerns about the implications for Egyptian activists, journalists, and civil society leaders.

COMPETITIVE AUTHORITARIANISM: An Interview with Lucan Way and Steven Levitsky

Lucan Way and Steven Levitsky, Journal of Democracy editorial board co-chairs, sat down with the Journal‘s Brent Kallmer to discuss the new competitive authoritarianism that has emerged in some countries with relatively strong democratic traditions and institutions.

The Rise and Fall of “Good Governance” Promotion

Alina Mungiu-Pippidi of the Hertie School of Governance delivered the Sixteenth Annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture on Democracy in the World on November 4, 2019, in which she outlined the historical evolution of good governance norms and the importance of ethical universalism standards.

Power 3.0: “INVESTIGATING TRANSNATIONAL KLEPTOCRACY

OCCRP’s Miranda Patrucic participated in a Power 3.0 Podcast episode on the subject of “Investigating Transnational Kleptocracy,” in which she explained how the cross-border networking of investigative journalists serves as a critical tool to counter the challenge of modern transnational kleptocracy.

“Democracies likewise must purposefully develop policies and civil society-based approaches to shape the development of norms concerning technology’s use. Such norms should protect space for the exchange of ideas and freer information flows, while also setting standards for accountability, transparency,
and human-rights adherence.”

— Christopher Walker  in  the annual alexis de tocqueville lecture at the catholic university of portugal

 MORE FROM THE FORUM:   

• The Forum held an event entitled “Strengthening Human Rights through Youth Engagement,” featuring Reagan-Fascell fellows Dolgion Aldar, Catherine Kanabahita, Marvi Sirmed, Viktoriya Tyuleneva, and Pedro Vaca in commemoration of International Human Rights Day on December 10.
• In a Power 3.0 Podcast episode entitled “Authoritarian Technology and Disinformation,” Natalia Antelava discusses innovative approaches to reporting on two dual trends—the disinformation crisis and the impact of authoritarian technologies—in the global information space.
• Sam Gregory on a Power 3.0 Podcast episode “Demystifying Deepfakes” describes how synthetic media produced by artificial intelligence may soon be used by malicious actors to undermine democracy.
• Power 3.0 Podcast guest Tutu Alicante analyzes the transnational elements of Equatorial Guinea’s kleptocracy, including its impact on regional and international institutions, and how coalitions of transnational civil society groups can respond in “Countering Kleptocracy from the Inside Out.”
• Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow Dolgion Aldar spoke of the current trends facing Mongolia in a public event entitled “Thirty Years After Mongolia’s Democratic Revolution: Has Democracy Delivered for All?“
• Christopher Walker was quoted in the Wall Street Journal in “Why Democracy is Troubled (and How to Fix it)” and in the Washington Post in “Putting China in Charge of the World’s Intellectual Property is a Bad Idea.”

Read more posts from the Power 3.0 Blog.