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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

Transnational Repression report cover collage

New Report: Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach

Dozens of governments around the world systemically employ violence against exiles and diasporas, reaching beyond national borders to silence dissent.

Transnational Repression main video thumbnail

Explainer Video

Hear from victims and learn more about the dangerous threat of transnational repression. 

Rwanda transnational repression case study

Country Case Studies

These are six countries that currently operate aggressive campaigns of transnational repression: China, Turkey, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran.

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 current research on transnational repression 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

Irpin, Ukraine – March 4, 2022 – Civilians rush to board a train as the sounds of battle draw closer to the city of Irpin. Image credit: Marcus Yam / Contributor, Getty Images

From Democratic Decline to Authoritarian Aggression

Nations in Transit

April 20, 2022

Relatives of government opponents who remain detained in different prisons hold signs with their portraits and names during a protest in Caracas in December 2020. (Image Credit: Yuri CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Defending Latin American Human Rights and Democracy Activists

Special Report

People in Budapest protest for the independence of Hungary's University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) following changes that threaten the university's autonomy. (Image credit: Marton Monus/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The Antidemocratic Turn

Nations in Transit

Freedom House - Transnational Repression

Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach

Transnational Repression

Justice for Jamal Khashoggi transnational repression

Perspectives on “Everyday” Transnational Repression in an Age of Globalization

Special Report

Hong Kong Academic Freedom protest tshirt

The Internationalization of Universities and the Repression of Academic Freedom

Special Report

News & Perspectives:

Hopeful Billboard

Billboard Art Installation Raises Funds for Ukraine

Press release

April 21, 2022

woman walking towards camera at train station

NEW REPORT: Regional Autocrats Exploiting Instability, Expanding Power from Central Europe to Central Asia

Press release

April 20, 2022

Rows of body bags in Ukraine's Bucha (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Russia: Hold the Regime Accountable for War Crimes in Ukraine

Press release

April 12, 2022

Khashoggi

Turkey: Authorities Abdicate Responsibility, Deny Justice in Khashoggi Case

Press release

April 8, 2022

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Hungary’s Inflection Election

Perspectives

March 30, 2022

Members of the Chinese Military march through the Paralympic Village at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

#Beijing2022: Winter Olympics a display of propaganda and censorship

Perspectives

March 10, 2022

Freedom House In the Media

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Is Authoritarianism the New Normal for Asia? | Opinion opens in new tab

May 13, 2022

Just Security logo

An Offer NATO Cannot (and Should Not) Refuse: Finland’s Membership opens in new tab

May 12, 2022

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Why Biden’s Anti-Putin Democracy Crusade Is Failing opens in new tab

May 11, 2022

Featured Experts

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Sarah Cook

Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

Sarah_G_Cook

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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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