Freedom House is an independent democracy watchdog organization based in Washington, D.C.
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Freedom House
As the land of the free commemorates Independence Day this year, it is worth remembering the countries that have little to celebrate and much to fear. And in 2013, there were a lot of them: last year was the eighth consecutive year that Freedom House's Freedom in the World survey, an annual measure of political and civil liberties across the globe, found more countries lost freedom than gained it. The following countries, to the misfortune of their citizens, earned the status of "Worst of the Worst" in 2013: out of the 195 countries examined by Freedom House across categories ranging from the ability to vote freely in legitimate elections to the ability to exercise freedom of belief, these 10 earned the lowest possible ratings on every measure. Central African Republic A rebellion in the Central African Republic ousted the president in March 2013 and led to suspension of the constitution, leaving the country virtually without law and authority for months. The rebellion also helped to create one of the largest humanitarian crises in Africa, with rival, Muslim, Christian and ethnic militias killing thousands of people and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes. Government forces and paramilitary groups continue to commit atrocities without being held accountable. Above, Burundian soldier stands at Bangui airport as part of an African Union peacekeeping force US Army Africa/ via Flickr:usarmyafrica
Residents of Chinese-controlled Tibet lack the right to freely elect their officials or determine their political future. Chinese security forces routinely engage in arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and execution without due process, punishing even nonviolent protests against Chinese rule. Although he remains the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama -- who lives in exile in India -- has relinquished his formal position as a political leader for Tibetan exiles. Inside Tibet, repression intensified in March 2011 after a young monk set himself on fire to protest Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule. At least eight more self-immolated last year. In response, authorities detained 300 monks for "patriotic education." During the year, the targets of detention and imprisonment in Tibetan regions expanded to include musicians and average citizens who circulated songs advocating Tibetan rights or independence. At least 500 political and religious prisoners were in custody as of September 2011. Here, a Tibetan lama carries a cannister of water at the Tashilhunpo Monastery on Dec.12, 2008, in Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues into 2023, the weather will have an important impact. Ukrainians, of course, are more vulnerable than usual to power outages and energy shocks. But Rus...Show moresia’s forces will also confront new challenges as they deal with depleted supplies and low morale. How are policymakers in Brussels, Moscow, and Washington factoring the cold weather into their calculations? Is Ukraine fatigue on the rise in the United States and Europe?
Tune in to watch FP’s Amelia Lester in conversation with the magazine’s reporters as they provide insights on where the war in Ukraine will head next. Send in your questions to join the discussion.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely the most popular elected leader in the world. No other politician has won so many votes in history. Few other incumbent leaders around the world...Show more have such consistently high polling numbers.
And yet a growing number of scholars believe that in the world’s largest democracy, Modi may be dismantling democracy itself. As historian Ramachandra Guha wrote in “The Cult of Modi,” India’s leader has systematically eroded key democratic pillars such as the press, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and the cabinet.
How exactly has Modi corralled so much power? Why have India’s opposition parties crumbled? What does a changing India mean for the world order? Join FP’s editor in chief, Ravi Agrawal, for a rare in-depth interview with Guha.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JULY 15: EU Commissioner for European Green Deal - First Vice President and Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans talks to to media in the Berlaymont building, the EU Commission headquarter on July 15, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium. EU Commissioners talked about making transport greener. (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Europe’s top climate negotiator, Frans Timmermans, says the goal of 1.5 degrees is on ‘life support’. Where does this leave the fight against climate change? How will Brussels ...Show morecontinue negotiations with Washington, Beijing, and other global capitals?
FP’s editor in chief Ravi Agrawal interviewed Timmermans after returning from the COP27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The two discussed outcomes from the talks and also how Europe has positioned itself amid growing tensions between the United States and China, and amid the most serious war on its turf in a generation.
I’ve been thinking about U.S. grand strategy again, and pondering some big questions that ought to be central to the debate on America’s global role. Some of these big questions are researchable, others are by their very nature more speculative. How you answer some of them also depends on the theories you think are most ...
