How are new digital technologies transforming the arsenal of authoritarianism—and reshaping democratic politics?
The Journal of Democracy‘s January 2019 issue features a set of four articles examining the growing threat of digital repression:
- An overview essay by Larry Diamond outlines the ways in which new technologies are threatening to undermine democracy, and even to foster “postmodern totalitarianism”;
- Ronald J. Deibert explores the “personal-data surveillance economy” underlying social media;
- Steven Feldstein highlights the dangers posed by the proliferation and abuse of artificial intelligence;
- Xiao Qiang explains how Chinese authorities are harnessing advanced digital technologies to build a comprehensive system of monitoring and control.
Also in the January 2019 issue:
- Will right-of-center politicians and intellectuals join Hungary’s Viktor Orbán in his embrace of “illiberal democracy”? Marc F. Plattner analyzes the emerging struggle on the political right.
- How did Brazil’s democracy pave the way for the rise of Jair Bolsonaro? Wendy Hunter and Timothy J. Power investigate the far-right populist’s path to the presidency.
- Does India’s BJP government pose a threat to pluralistic democracy? Sumit Ganguly and Swapan Dasgupta offer contrasting views.
Plus:
- Scott Mainwaring and Fernando Bizzarro chart the post-transition fortunes of the third-wave democracies;
- Roberto D’Alimonte considers how Italy’s populists came to power, and what their victory portends;
- Aqil Shah examines the alliance with the military that helped to bring about populist Imran Khan’s electoral win in Pakistan;
- Alex Magaisa shows that the competitive authoritarian system created by dictator Robert Mugabe has endured through Zimbabwe’s first post-Mugabe elections;
- Lee Morgenbesser discusses the recent crackdown in Cambodia, capped by sham elections; and
- Alberto Simpser reviews How to Rig an Election, by Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas.
For the complete Table of Contents, visit www.journalofdemocracy.org.
