The Rise and Persistence of Authoritarianism: Is Democracy in Peril

In 1992 Francis Fukuyama famously wrote about "The End of History" and definite win of the liberal democracy over any other form of government. Almost 25 years later the researchers say that there are only 21 liberal democracies left in the world, and over 75% of world population lives under the authoritarian rule. This lecture will explore the main tropes of the 21st century authoritarians and populists, how they use the international order to their benefit, employ transnational repression, disinformation campaigns (foreign and domestic). We will talk about how they learn from each other, and the methods they use to constrain human rights defenders and undermine independent voices. Based on case studies from the countries like Russia, Egypt, Nicaragua and Vietnam, as well as their influence and overreach in the regions like Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, Central America and South-East Asia, we will talk about various circumstances of the shrinking civic space and the state of civil society vis-a-vis the challenges they face, including the impact they have on their mental health and how we help them recover.

Nadia Ivanova is Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy at People in Need (PIN), where she leads support for human rights defenders, independent journalists, and grassroots civil society organizations working in some of the world's most politically restrictive environments. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, she brings more than a decade of experience advancing human rights and democratic resilience across Eastern Europe and within politically closed contexts.
 

Under her leadership, the Centre has expanded its support for organizations documenting human rights violations, promoting accountability for international crimes, and helping local actors continue their work under increasingly restrictive conditions. Nadia is a recognized global voice on civil society and human rights, drawing on PIN's work across Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia and regularly contributes to public debates on democracy and the future of civic freedoms.

CO-SPONSORED BY:
MSU AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
MSU ASIAN STUDIES CENTER
MSU CENTER FOR GENDER IN GLOBAL CONTEXT
MSU CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STUDIES
MSU DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
MSU GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE
MSU JAMES MADISON COLLEGE
MSU MUSLIM STUDIES PROGRAM