"Secrecy turns mineral policy into executive property. Transparency turns it into a public argument."

"When elected leaders manipulate democratic constitutions to stay in power...many citizens stop believing that elections can remove abusive leaders. Put differently, the problem is that elected leaders have become very bad democrats, not that democracy itself is bad."

By purging leaders he handpicked himself, Xi Jinping has created "an insoluble paradox: Either Xi possesses profoundly flawed judgment, consistently picking “bad apples,” or the system itself has become a relentless meat grinder where no status guarantees safety."

Xi’s ongoing purge of China’s leaders — including his political allies — marks a return to Mao-style court politics. He is cementing his absolute control — and laying the groundwork for a major succession crisis.

"many African publics are asking their militaries to intervene in politics to restore order in their dysfunctional democracies. But the militaries that African publics are inviting to do this “resetting” of democracy rarely share that short-term vision of a temporary foray into politics."

In Africa, the race for critical minerals isn’t just about supply chains and industrial strategy. It underscores the need to build democratic institutions to govern the new mineral rush while protecting citizens’ rights.

Russia’s influence operations are more concerned with reshaping voters’ fears and anxieties than convincing them of any specific falsehood. To survive, democratic values need to be defended and mobilized.

After January’s mass protests, Iran seemed on the verge of revolutionary upheaval. How is it weathering the U.S.-Israeli assault?

In the first contests of Germany’s “super election year,” the radical-right AfD performed well far from its strongholds. The country may soon decide it’s time to cooperate with the party rather than try to contain it.

Africans don’t want military rule. They want generals to rid them of bad leaders, and then return to the barracks. But once in power, military leaders often have other ideas.

Xi’s ongoing purge of China’s leaders — including his political allies — marks a return to Mao-style court politics. He is cementing his absolute control — and laying the groundwork for a major succession crisis. ‼️ NEW online exclusive by Christopher Nye

Africans don’t want military rule. They want generals to rid them of bad leaders, and then return to the barracks. But once in power, military leaders often have other ideas. ⚠️NEW online exclusive by Michael Yekple and Zlatin Mitkov

"The gap between what citizens and their armed forces want is quickly becoming a major threat to democracy in Africa."

Inside Russia’s Psychological War on European Democracy

"For Germany’s conservatives, the dilemma is acute: How can center-right majorities in public opinion be translated into policy when doing so requires cooperation with the political left?"

In the first contests of Germany’s “super election year,” the radical-right AfD performed well far from its strongholds. The country may soon decide it’s time to cooperate with the party rather than try to contain it. 🆕Online exclusive by Michael Bröning

How was freedom undone in Hong Kong? How was one of the most vibrant cities in the world silenced?

The “crisis” of democracy is a crisis of representation. New parties, some of which are populist in troublingly illiberal ways, are arising from this moment. The danger that they pose is not that they are antidemocratic, but that they are antiliberal.

Tibet is one of the most heavily policed regions in the world. Beijing has spent seven decades trying to assimilate the Tibetan people through force. It will never succeed.

Venezuela’s civil society is reemerging, opposition leaders are returning, and activists are taking to the streets. Even more, Washington has the leverage to bring about real change. Will it seize the moment?

Whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro leads to democracy depends on Donald Trump — and María Corina Machado’s ability to make a democratic future the only attractive choice.

What seemed like science fiction not five years ago is fast becoming reality, with AI agents serving as personal assistants, AI coding tools transforming workplaces, and AI “slop” flooding social media. None of this should come as a surprise.

"Across [Europe], Russia’s psychological tactics have produced a recognizable pattern with three distinct outcomes: corrosion in Austria, capture in Slovakia, and crisis and recovery in Romania."

"The war has altered political calculations inside Iran. The choice no longer appears simply to be change versus the status quo, but increasingly stability versus chaos."

If the war ends with the dismantling of the regime’s repressive apparatus, the Iranian people will have a rare, if fraught, opportunity. The totalitarian mindset often survives totalitarian regimes.

After January’s mass protests, Iran seemed on the verge of revolutionary upheaval. How is it weathering the U.S.-Israeli assault?

🔜 Our April issue launches April 1! Keep an eye on our socials and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

If Plato had a Substack, it would be overlooked. The old system of gatekeeping was replaced with one that rewards engagement over truth. We need to protect the ideas an algorithm can’t measure.

"Today’s influence operations...seek to reshape voters’ priorities. By elevating some anxieties and dimming others, disinformation reorders the hierarchy of public concern, transforming what feels existential."

After January’s mass protests, Iran seemed on the verge of revolutionary upheaval. How is it weathering the U.S.-Israeli assault?

Russia’s influence operations are more concerned with reshaping voters’ fears and anxieties than convincing them of any specific falsehood. To survive, democratic values need to be defended and mobilized.

Russia’s influence operations are more concerned with reshaping voters’ fears and anxieties than convincing them of any specific falsehood. To survive, democratic values need to be defended and mobilized. 🆕 online exclusive by Daria Azariev North and Vitaliy Shushkevich:

"Even in the best-case scenario, if the Islamic Republic crumbles and Iranian citizens reclaim full agency, the road to democracy will be fraught with obstacles, not least because we are living in a time of global illiberalism’s revival."

There have been numerous waves of protest against the country’s corrupt theocracy. This time is different. It is a movement to reclaim life. Whatever happens, there is no going back. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

The Islamic Republic is in a volatile, even prerevolutionary situation, hammered by foreign opposition and sanctions from the outside, and the disillusionment and discontent of its own people from within. But a catalyst needs to appear. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

“Rather than generating revolutionary momentum, the war has thus far reinforced elite cohesion, strengthened nationalist sentiment, and redirected public attention toward security and survival.” 🆕 online exclusive by Peyman Asadzade:

Iran’s theocracy has waged a brutal campaign against its own citizens for years. Now that the Woman, Life, Freedom movement has stripped the regime of any legitimacy, the mullahs have had no response but to sharpen their instruments of repression. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

"Since the first day of the attack, progovernment rallies have taken place daily across the country, a sustained presence in public space that opposition movements inside Iran cannot remotely match."

Why the Islamic Republic Still Stands 🆕 By Peyman Asadzade

"Understanding how Orbán won his latest supermajority shows defenders of democracy what they are up against when autocrats lock in their power by law."

"This war is, in essence, ideological. It can only end with the regime’s ideological defeat, and only the Iranian people can bring that defeat about."

Iran’s Democratic Hopes Amid the Smoke of War 🆕 By Ladan Boroumand

Today in life under competitive authoritarianism

If Plato had a Substack, it would be overlooked. The old system of gatekeeping was replaced with one that rewards engagement over truth. We need to protect the ideas an algorithm can’t measure.

"If the current war results in the dismantling of the regime’s repressive apparatus—which appears to be one of its military objectives—the Iranian people will have the opportunity to see it through to a successful conclusion."

"There is little indication that the strikes have produced revolutionary momentum inside Iran. If anything, the political signals emerging from the country suggest the opposite dynamic may be unfolding."

If the war ends with the dismantling of the regime’s repressive apparatus, the Iranian people will have a rare, if fraught, opportunity. The totalitarian mindset often survives totalitarian regimes.

After January’s mass protests, Iran seemed on the verge of revolutionary upheaval. How is it weathering the U.S.-Israeli assault?

The Trump administration is ratcheting up the pressure, and the island dictatorship is in deep crisis. But what is the plan for picking up the pieces?

Authoritarian regimes are targeting exiles and diaspora communities in more places than ever before. Activists, journalists, and regular people living abroad must watch their backs, because these governments now have the power to suppress dissent even outside their borders.