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Sunday, February 10th, 2019

Democracy in Retreat

Author:    
Source:     Freedom in the World 2019
Publication Date:     9 February 2019 (used)
 Link: Democracy in Retreat
Stephan:   Democracy, fairness, and equality are under attack. The United States is now considered a flawed and endangered democracy. This as wealth inequality is at a level never before seen in modern human society, and climate change is literally altering the earth. Here is the report on the state of democracy. The only thing that is going to change this is we ourselves. And yet 40 percent of us think Trump, Christofascism, White Supremacy, and American Exceptionalism are the way to go.

 

Myanmar Rohingya refugee women shout slogans as they protest against the repatriation programme at the Unchiprang Rohingya refugee camp. Photo credit: K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images.

In 2018, Freedom in the World recorded the 13th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. The reversal has spanned a variety of countries in every region, from long-standing democracies like the United States to consolidated authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. The overall losses are still shallow compared with the gains of the late 20th century, but the pattern is consistent and ominous. Democracy is in retreat.

In states that were already authoritarian, earning Not Free designations from Freedom House, governments have increasingly shed the thin façade of democratic practice that they established in previous decades, when international incentives and pressure for reform were stronger. More authoritarian powers are now banning opposition groups or jailing their leaders, dispensing with term limits, and tightening the screws on any independent media that remain. Meanwhile, many countries that democratized after the end of the Cold War have regressed in the face of rampant corruption, antiliberal populist movements, and breakdowns in the rule of law. Most troublingly, even long-standing democracies have been shaken […]

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2 Comments

  1. Rev. Dean on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 9:22 am

    Stephan, I highly recommend that you consider the website called “geoengineringwatch.org” to gain an even more drastic, but overlooked view on the subject of climate change. I believe it has serious ramifications for the future of the world and everything on it.

  2. Rev. Dean on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    I can see this problem happening in Venezuela right now.
    Recently I have read some disturbing news on a different topic. This is one expressed in the area of climate change, and I came across a website called geoengineeringwatch.org where the climate is actually being controlled. I wondered if you, Stephan, had any thoughts on the subject since it has ramifications that effect climate change which the entire world, and since you have had contact with some government officials. This kind of power (to change the climate) could have strong provocation over countries and maybe force them to make changes in their government. What do you know about geoengineering, Stephan? Have you any news on the subject, or do you think it is too controversial to discuss?