Freedom at Issue:

Insights on the global struggle for democracy

The Rise of Virtual Elections

Arch Puddington
October 10, 2014

Nearly all countries today permit multiparty elections. In the most sophisticated authoritarian states, however, the goal of incumbents is not to defeat opposition candidates in a competitive setting, but rather to organize a system that creates the illusion of competition while squelching it in reality.

Khodorkovsky’s Speech at the Freedom House Awards Dinner

October 2, 2014



The following is the prepared text of the speech delivered by Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the 2014 Freedom House Awards Dinner on October 1. The text was originally posted here.

Background on Hong Kong’s Quest for Democracy

October 1, 2014



The following summary, drawn largely from Freedom House’s annual Freedom in the World report, provides a historical overview of Hong Kong’s incremental and ultimately illusory political reforms under Chinese rule. 

Freedom’s Uneasy Condition

Arch Puddington
September 29, 2014



In recent commentaries on the bleak state of global freedom, analysts have used a series of labels to describe the trajectory of democracy: “stagnation,” “erosion,” “recession,” and even “decline” for those who view the trends with alarm.

One label that has not been applied to current conditions is “reversal.”

Why Democracy Matters for Gay Rights

Omar G. Encarnacion
September 22, 2014

 



Given the schizophrenic manner in which gay-rights politics played out around the world last year, it is apparent that we have to delve deep into the domestic environment to understand why such rights are thriving in some countries and floundering in others.
 

 

State Partitioning of the Internet Harms Users Everywhere

Gigi Alford
September 18, 2014



Many governments, particularly authoritarian regimes, are attempting to impose political borders on the global internet, isolating users in repressive countries and impoverishing the web for all.

The East-West Divide on LGBT Rights in Europe

Zselyke Csaky
September 17, 2014



Public opinion on LGBT rights has undergone a significant shift in Europe in recent decades, but there is still substantial variation in how legal systems within EU states deal with the issue.

Questions for the Nominated U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan

September 16, 2014



The following are suggested questions for Robert Francis Cekuta, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, whose confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will take place on Wednesday, September 17.

Southern Africa Solves Its Conflicts, But Neglects Underlying Causes

Cathal Gilbert
September 11, 2014



Southern Africa’s peacekeeping mechanism has proven to be quite effective at maintaining stability, most recently in Lesotho, but it has ignored the real causes of conflict and failed to hold leaders to account for their undemocratic actions.

Questions for the Nominated U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain

Robert Herman
Charles Dunne
Annie Boyajian
September 9, 2014


The following are suggested questions for William V. Roebuck, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, whose confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will take place on Wednesday, September 10.

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