Democracy

Narratives of External Norm Contenders Across the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood

The paper focuses on narratives of contested democracy by third-country actors — notably Russia and China — in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood. It identifies four dominant narratives across the region that originate from Russia — ‘decadent and declining West’, ‘historical unity with Russia’, ‘Russia provides security, the West stokes conflict’, and ‘Western-imposed democracy’ — and one broad narrative promoted by China, summed up as ‘China as a positive alternative’. It explores similarities and differences between the six country cases as well as between the narratives advanced by Russia and China. Finally, the paper also seeks to assess the receptiveness of local audiences to the narratives promoted by the two authoritarian powers and their relevance from the viewpoint of democratisation and EU democracy support.

Read more
Image for Narratives of External Norm Contenders Across the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood Image for Narratives of External Norm Contenders Across the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood
,

Catching the Wind in a Net? Prospects for Russia’s Democratisation

The question of whether and on what conditions Russia could someday find its place among free and democratic western states has been under close scrutiny ever since the end of the Cold War. In 1992, President Richard Nixon warned the West that instead of transitioning to a fully-fledged liberal democracy, Russia would be seeking a third way to reconcile Soviet stability and enforced security with capitalist prosperity. By 2024, the Russia that he warned us about has fully materialised and is actively challenging global peace and security. Is this aggressive, inherently undemocratic direction solely the fault of the repressive state apparatus, or could bottom-up dynamics play a role in blocking Russia’s so-called normalisation?

Read more
Image for Catching the Wind in a Net? Prospects for Russia’s Democratisation Image for Catching the Wind in a Net? Prospects for Russia’s Democratisation
,

Europe’s Broken Order and the Prospect of a New Cold War

The Russian and western visions of European security have profoundly different ideational roots: balance of power embedded in realist geopolitics versus liberal rules-based order. Russia is a revisionist power aiming to re-establish a European security order based on the balance of power, including a recognition of its empire and sphere of influence. Russia’s aggressive pursuit of this vision has forced the West to defend the rules-based liberal order in Europe and beyond.

Read more
Image for Europe’s Broken Order and the Prospect of a New Cold War Image for Europe’s Broken Order and the Prospect of a New Cold War
ZUMAPRESS.com/Scanpix

US Democracy: A Second Heart Attack?

On 6 January 2021, America suffered a massive heart attack. The entire world watched as Washington, the seat of national power, a symbol of international egalitarianism, and the last remaining superpower was engulfed in a smoky cauldron of violent anarchy. When the sun set, it was not clear if American democracy would survive.

Read more
Image for US Democracy: A Second Heart Attack? Image for US Democracy: A Second Heart Attack?