What are liberal democracy’s real vulnerabilities? Will the pandemic change the future of protest? How do some of the world’s worst regimes hold on to power? Plus: China’s pandemic power play, inside Bolivia’s citizen revolt, and more.
In the July issue, Journal of Democracy contributors survey the pressing challenges that, from Latin America to East Asia, are shaping the balance between democracy and authoritarianism today.
Looking ahead:
- Coeditor William J. Dobson considers the outlook for democracies in a time of global crisis and surging illiberalism.
Digital disruption:
- Nic Cheeseman, Jonathan Fisher, Idayat Hassan, and Jamie Hitchen analyze how WhatsApp is helping and hurting democracy in Nigeria; and
- Noam Lupu, Mariana V. Ramírez Bustamante, and Elizabeth J. Zechmeister explore how social media and misinformation’s spread are changing political attitudes in Latin America.
Liberal democracy and its weaknesses:
- William A. Galston examines the charges against liberal democracy and weighs the prospects for navigating its future.
Perception management:
- Nadège Rolland scrutinizes China’s aggressive messaging in the age of covid-19.
Authoritarian survival:
- Misagh Parsa looks at the repressive tactics that have kept Iran’s theocracy in power; and
- Javier Corrales analyzes Maduro’s new tactic for hanging on.
The future of protest:
- Erica Chenoweth asks why civil-resistance movements have been succeeding less often—and how the pandemic might save them.
Plus:
- Kharis Templeman reveals how Taiwan stood up to Beijing’s influence operations during the 2020 election campaign;
- Fabrice Lehoucq retraces the chain of events leading to the fall of Bolivia’s President Evo Morales;
- Gi-Wook Shin argues that zero-sum politics is producing a little-noticed case of democratic erosion in South Korea;
- Marlene Laruelle explains why we should see Russia’s promotion of illiberalism as more than just a political ploy; and
- Is MBS a modernizer? Tarek Masoud reviews Ben Hubbard’s new book on Saudi Arabia’s crown prince.
VIEW THE FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS AT WWW.JOURNALOFDEMOCRACY.ORG.
