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Two specialized newsletters from the international forum: “Pandemic Ploys” and “Digital Directions“
The International Forum recently launched two newsletters that examine issues at the forefront of modern challenges to democracy. “Pandemic Ploys” examines how authoritarians around the world have manipulated the COVID-19 pandemic to their advantage, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on democratic integrity, political crackdowns, democratic responses, emerging trends in technology, and related resources. “Digital Directions” focuses on authoritarian manipulation and democratic resilience within the digital domain and examines how illiberal actors are exploiting the information space and what democratic governments and civil society are doing to craft democratically accountable digital models. Subscribe to these newsletters. |
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In a Power 3.0 Blog post, entitled “Blank Check: How Weak Multilateral Lending Standards Enable and Strengthen Kleptocracy,” Elsa Peraldi detailed how corrupt state officials embezzled much needed COVID-19 assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral financial institutions. Although the IMF adopted an accountability framework in 2018, the organization is currently unable to ensure that such emergency relief loans are allocated properly. Peraldi reviews how corrupt governments use insufficient or half-hearted anticorruption measures as a means of reputation laundering. In response to these challenges, the author suggests that the IMF collaborate with stakeholders in civil society to ensure that state actors abide by measures designed to combat corruption and safeguard good governance. |
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The International Forum and the National Endowment for Democracy welcomed John K. Glenn as Senior Director of the International Forum. Glenn has an extensive background working at the intersection of international affairs and democratic development, most recently as policy director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC). Glenn will oversee and further develop the Forum’s cross-cutting analytical and research activity in areas including transnational kleptocracy, the integrity of the information space, emerging technology, and sharp power and authoritarian influence. Prior to joining USGLC, Glenn served as director of foreign policy at the German Marshall Fund. |
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The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) held an event entitled “ Identifying Corrosive Capital from China in the Americas and the Carribbean,” featuring the International Forum’s Jessica Ludwig to examine the impact of Chinese capital in the region. The event discussed how the capital flows from China often includes a sharp power angle in recipient countries and presents potential consequences for private businesses and democratic governance.
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The National Endowment for Democracy and the International Forum are pleased to welcome the Fall 2021 cohort of Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows and Visiting Fellows. Joining us this cycle are Andrea Ngombet (Republic of Congo), Senami Kojah (Nigeria), Tamta Tvalavadze (Georgia), DJ Switch (Nigeria), Ladan Boroumand (Iran), who are leading democracy activists, practitioners, and scholars from a number of countries around the world.
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On December 7, the International Forum is hosting an event entitled “Resisting Sharp Power: Strengthening the Fabric of Open Societies” beginning at 8:00am ET, featuring Dominka Hajdu (GLOBSEC), Ttcat (DoubleThink Lab), George Sarpong (Ghana National Media Commission), and Jessica Ludwig (International Forum), and opening remarks by John Glenn (International Forum). The conversation, moderated by Kevin Sheives (International Forum), will examine how civil-society led approaches and tools can accelerate learning about the impact of sharp power on the public sphere and identify opportunities – across regions and outside of the context of advanced democracies – for strengthening democratic resilience in young and emerging democracies. Coordinated with the Global Democracy Coalition, further event details will be available on NED’s YouTube page.
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