By Brian Whitaker | ( Al-Bab.com ) | – – Among the 22 countries belonging to the Arab League, 17 are ranked as “bad” or “very bad” in the annual World Press Freedom Index published today by Reporters Without Borders. The eight classified as “bad” are Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and the […]
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Authoritarianism
Turkey’s Erdogan bans Wikipedia, TV Dating Shows, oh, and Fires 4,000
TeleSur | – – With the April 16 referendum having expanded Erdogan’s powers, the AKP leader continues to lead a mass crackdown against his citizens. While a hotly contested referendum earlier this month expanded Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian powers — it appears the Justice and Development (AKP) party leader is wasting no time exercising […]
As Leftist Turks Protest, Trump congratulates Erdogan on Authoritarian Turn
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Several hundred Turks demonstrated in Istanbul on Monday in protest at the referendum result on Sunday transforming Turkey into a presidential system and handing vast powers to right wing politician Tayyip Erdogan. In contrast, US president Donald J. Trump called Erdogan to congratulate him on his […]
Turkish Democracy in Trouble, but not Because of Presidential System
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Turkey’s historic referendum on Sunday will move the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system. Many observers are sounding a death knell for Turkish democracy as a result, but the move to presidentialism in and of itself isn’t the problem. Interestingly, Erdogan won with a […]
Turkey’s Referendum on Democracy vs. Illiberal Rule
By Natalie Martin | (The Conversation) | – – When the Turkish government announced its plans to transform itself into an executive presidency, no-one was particularly surprised. This plan, which has been described as “the most radical political change since the modern republic’s foundation in 1923”, is the culmination of a steady drift towards authoritarianism […]
Asian Doctor Violently Pulled Off US Plane by Security Guards
TeleSur | – – While he was allowed back on the flight, the man’s face was bleeding from the force the guards exerted. A viral video has yet again stirred controversy around United Airlines after footage showed security personnel dragging a screaming man off a plane Sunday evening. The flight, from Chicago O’Hare Airport to […]
Strongman: The Bloodstained Rise of Global Populism
By Alfred W. McCoy | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – In 2016, something extraordinary happened in the politics of diverse countries around the world. With surprising speed and simultaneity, a new generation of populist leaders emerged from the margins of nominally democratic nations to win power. In doing so, they gave voice, often in virulent […]
Trump, al-Sisi and Tightening up the Pressure Cooker
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – President Trump met Monday with Egyptian field marshal/ president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Trump effused, “We agree on so many things. I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President Sisi. He’s done a fantastic job […]
The White House Wouldn’t Post Trump Staffers’ Financial Disclosures. So We Did
by Ariana Tobin and Derek Kravitz | (ProPublica) | – – In a remarkable Friday night news dump, the Trump administration made dozens of White House staffers’ financial disclosure forms available. But they did it with an extra dose of opacity. These are important disclosures from the people who have the president’s ear and shape […]