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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a welcome ceremony for Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 25, 2016. Editorial Credit: Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images.

Authoritarian Reach

The world’s authoritarian regimes understand that domestic repression alone will not ensure their survival. Over the past two decades, they have extended their influence beyond their own borders in an attempt to silence critics, subvert democratic governments, and reshape international norms and institutions to serve their own interests.

Understanding Transnational Repression

Freedom House - Transnational Repression 2022

New Report: Defending Democracy in Exile

Dozens of governments around the world systemically employ violence against exiles and diasporas, reaching beyond national borders to silence dissent. Read more about transnational repression in our newest report, Defending Democracy in Exile: Policy Responses to Transnational Repression. 

Freedom House - Transnational Repression Origin Host Countries

About Transnational Repression

By studying transnational repression at a global scale, Freedom House aims to explain the repercussions of these campaigns, and to help policymakers and civil society think about how they can respond to protect exiles and diasporas. Read all of our reports on transnational repression. 

Freedom House - Transnational Repression Grave Threats

Policy Recommendations

The recommendations listed below are intended to constrain the ability of states to commit acts of transnational repression and to increase accountability for perpetrators of transnational repression.

The world’s authoritarian regimes understand that domestic repression alone will not ensure their survival. Over the past two decades, they have extended their influence beyond their own borders in an attempt to silence critics, subvert democratic governments, and reshape international norms and institutions to serve their own interests.

Freedom House’s current work on authoritarian reach has two main areas: transnational repression, and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) information influence abroad.

Freedom House is a leading authority on transnational repression, or the targeting of exiles and diasporas by the state they left behind. Freedom House mapped the global scale and scope of transnational repression in its 2021 report Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach. Its newest report, Defending Democracy in Exile, focuses on how host states can better protect exiles and diasporas within their borders through reforms in law enforcement, security services, and migration.

Freedom House has been closely monitoring Chinese Communist Party information influence for over a decade through the China Media Bulletin and a series of special reports, including the 2020 Beijing’s Global Megaphone. Freedom House is expanding this research through a new project on Beijing’s Global Media Influence. The project will document how the CCP, Chinese state media, and related actors exert influence on media and news consumption in 30 countries worldwide, as well as the degree of local resilience to the covert, corrupt, and coercive dimensions of Beijing’s information influence.

Reports & Analysis

Protest with signs "Canada Welcomes Refugees"

Canada: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

Two security professionals cleaning a crime scene

United Kingdom: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

Two Ukrainian Men Standing At A Government Building

Ukraine: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan embraces Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Turkey: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

Protesters gather in front of Sweden's parliament in Stockholm on June 21, 2016 to protest the newly approved legislation to tighten regulations for asylum and family reunification in the Scandinavian country which had a record 160,000 asylum-seekers last year.

Sweden: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

Woman walking in front of a protest "we are not going back"

South Africa: Transnational Repression Host Country Case Study

Special Report

News & Perspectives:

Hungarian flag background with Viktor Orban

Precarious Times for a Bulwark of Democracy

Testimony and remarks

June 29, 2022

Taliban fighters in Kabul in August, 2021

“A Constant State of Fear”: An Afghan Human Rights Defender Describes Her Life Under Taliban Rule

Perspectives

June 30, 2022
Freedom House - Transnational Repression Grave Threats

CECC Statement: The Threat of Transnational Repression from China and the U.S. Response

Testimony and remarks

June 21, 2022

Residential building in Ukraine shelled by Russian forces

In Ukraine and Neighboring Countries, Democracy Activists Are Prepared for a Long Struggle

Perspectives

June 9, 2022

2022 TNR cover no text

NEW REPORT: More Governments Reaching across Borders to Silence Dissent, Responses Lagging

Press release

June 2, 2022

2022 TNR cover no text

Transnational Repression Threatens Freedom Worldwide

Perspectives

June 2, 2022

Freedom House In the Media

The Diplomat

Hong Kong Is Unrecognizable After 2 Years Under the National Security Law opens in new tab

June 22, 2022

Final Politico logo

How Big Tech discriminates on misinformation opens in new tab

June 3, 2022

Just Security logo

Early Edition: June 3, 2022 opens in new tab

June 3, 2022

Featured Experts

Isabel Linzer Expert Photo

Isabel Linzer

Research Analyst, Transnational Repression and Migration

isabelalinzer

Sarah Cook Expert Photo

Sarah Cook

Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

Sarah_G_Cook

Yana Gorokhovskaia headshot

Yana Gorokhovskaia

Senior Research Analyst, Transnational Repression and Migration

@gorokhovskaia

If you would like to interview a Freedom House expert on this topic, please email [email protected].

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