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Hundreds of protesters with signs and flags in front of a capital building.
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

Authoritarian leaders worldwide are exerting their influence beyond their borders in an attempt to silence critics and subvert democracy.

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.

Justice for Jamal Khashoggi transnational repression

Featured Essays: Perspectives Transnational Repression in an Age of Globalization

Read More

Upcoming Project:

Transnational Repression

Freedom House is conducting a 12-month research project on transnational repression, or the targeting of individuals by their countries after they have gone abroad. Transnational repression can take a variety of forms: direct targeting such as kidnappings or assassinations, manipulation of host country institutions to detain or deport individuals abroad unlawfully, limiting the mobility of individuals abroad through actions like passport cancellations, and targeting individuals by threatening their families and loved ones. Through these actions, states seek to control “their” populations even after they have gone abroad.

For the project, Freedom House is gathering cases of direct transnational repression incidents around the world since 2014, and conducting interviews with exiles and members of diasporas about how transnational repression has affected their lives. The data and interviews will be incorporated into a special report for release in September 2020. By studying this phenomenon at a global scale, Freedom House will explain the repercussions of transnational repression campaigns, and help policymakers and civil society think about how they can respond to protect activists in exile.

The project is supported by the Smith Richardson Foundation and the Achelis & Bodman Foundation.

To learn more, please contact [email protected]. 

Related Reports & Analysis

Justice for Jamal Khashoggi transnational repression

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

Special Report

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The Internationalization of Universities and the Repression of Academic Freedom

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Turkey protest Uighurs Istanbul transnational repression

At Home and Abroad: Coercion-by-Proxy as a Tool of Transnational Repression

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The Importance of Defending Diaspora Activism for Democracy and Human Rights

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The Digital Transnational Repression Toolkit, and Its Silencing Effects

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Dropping the Democratic Facade

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News & Perspectives:

Hong Kong mass arrest of prodemocracy advocates

Hong Kong: Human Rights Groups Condemn Mass Arrests

Joint statement

January 8, 2021

Hong Kong Police in riot gear arrests

香港:自由之家谴责大规模逮捕民主运动人士及政治家

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January 6, 2021

Hong Kong Police in riot gear arrests

香港:自由之家譴責大規模逮捕民主運動人士及政治家

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January 6, 2021

Hong Kong Police in riot gear arrests

Hong Kong: Freedom House Condemns Mass Arrest of Prodemocracy Activists, Politicians

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Turkey: Passage of NGO Law Strips Away Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

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The Attacks on Hong Kong’s Media Just Keep Getting Worse

Perspectives

December 21, 2020

Freedom House In the Media

Final Politico logo

POLITICO’s most-read stories of 2020 opens in new tab

December 28, 2020

The Atlantic logo

I Was Sanctioned by China opens in new tab

August 11, 2020

the washington post logo

U.S. democracy and human rights leaders sanctioned by China vow not to be cowed into silence opens in new tab

August 10, 2020

Featured Experts

Nate Schenkkan Expert Photo

Nate Schenkkan

Director for Special Research

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Sarah Cook Expert Photo

Sarah Cook

Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

Sarah_G_Cook

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

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