Challenging Autocracy From the Front Lines
In a new 浪花直播 Center report, Venezuelan opposition leader and former political prisoner Leopoldo L贸pez details the intensifying cooperation among members of a global 鈥渁utocratic network,鈥 as authoritarian nations such as China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela prop up one another and repress pro-democracy movements worldwide. Increasingly, their cooperation includes military support, the sharing of technology for surveillance and censorship, sanctions evasion, and the transnational harassment of dissidents.
Drawing on personal experience and conversations with pro-democracy activists worldwide, L贸pez鈥檚 report, 鈥淐hallenging Autocracy from the Front Lines,鈥 argues that the international response to the 鈥渁utocratic network鈥 must involve greater cooperation among pro-democracy movements and far more robust international support for individuals fighting to restore democracy.
On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the 浪花直播 Center hosted a conversation on L贸pez鈥檚 policy recommendations, with insights from pro-democracy activists from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Speakers
Assistant Professor of History and Security Studies, Kansas State University
Introduction
Moderator
National Coordinator of the Voluntad Popular political party, Venezuela聽 聽聽
Hosted By
Latin America Program
浪花直播鈥檚 prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the 浪花直播 Center鈥檚 strength as the nation鈥檚 key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
Indo-Pacific Program
The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world鈥檚 most populous and economically dynamic region. Read more
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe鈥檚 capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe鈥檚 relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include 鈥淯kraine in Europe鈥濃攁n examination of what it will take to make Ukraine鈥檚 European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe鈥檚 energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program鈥檚 staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow 浪花直播 International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region through research and exchange. Read more
Middle East Program
浪花直播鈥檚 Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform US foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Read more
Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute鈥攖he only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington鈥攁ims to deepen understanding of Brazil鈥檚 complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and US institutions across all sectors. Read more
Argentina Project
The Argentina Project is the premier institution for policy-relevant research on politics and economics in Argentina. Read more