What’s on the Backfoot? Authoritarianism, Democracy, and Populism Today

December 15, 2023

In the contemporary global political landscape, the dynamics of authoritarianism, democracy, and populism are undergoing significant shifts, impacting both the southern and northern hemispheres. Authoritarian resurgence challenges democratic foundations, and populist sentiments test traditional norms globally. Leaders recalibrate alliances, reshaping international relations beyond regional boundaries. Amidst these changes, three key questions emerge:

- Is the shift towards authoritarianism a temporary deviation or a lasting departure from democratic principles, transcending geographical boundaries?

- Does the evolving discourse signify the exhaustion of the democratic model, encompassing authoritarian aspects?

- And, amidst the spread of disinformation and populist narratives, what measures can be implemented to safeguard the integrity of information, foster informed citizenry, and enhance resilience against manipulative influences?

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    Francisco Cordoba Otalora
    December 19, 2023
    Francisco Cordoba is a 2019 alumnus of Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders program. Learn more about him here. This piece was originally published here. I recently had an eye-opening experience at the Atlantic Dialogue conference in Morocco, organized by the Policy Center for the New South. Picture this: a diverse gathering of leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa and the Atlantic basin. It was like a mini melting pot of ideas and cultures. One intriguing conve ...
  • December 15, 2023
    In the contemporary global political landscape, the dynamics of authoritarianism, democracy, and populism are undergoing significant shifts, impacting both the southern and northern hemispheres. Authoritarian resurgence challenges democratic foundations, and populist sentiments test tra...
  • June 09, 2023
    In this podcast episode, we delve into the complex and diverse topic of migration and integration in Atlantic Latin America. As we explore the historical events and patterns of migration ...
  • December 15, 2022
    An unprecedented threat to humanity, the climate crisis has been worsening for decades. Global warming is profoundly impacting the environment, the global economy, and the international peace and stability on which humanity depends. Food production, access to fresh water, and livable am...
  • December 15, 2022
    The growing tensions in international relations that culminated in the war in Ukraine and the Sino-American rivalry put NATO and the dialectic of the transatlantic alliance back at the forefront of global strategic affairs. The 2022 Strategic Concept falls within this dynamic by confirm...
  • December 14, 2022
    movement, the "Indignados", the social riots in some Latin American countries, the so-called “Arab Spring”, to the more recent “Gilets Jaunes” or “Antivax”, the world registered a clear increase in dissents since the financial crisis (2007-08). These social movements have clearly demons...
  • Authors
    Sabine Cessou
    July 12, 2022
    The Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders Alumni (ADEL) Portraits are a series of journalistic insights that delve into the stories and backgrounds of impactful young leaders of the ADEL community, now 350 alumni strong. These portraits are more than a biography as they capture the motives, success stories, career shifts, and vision behind each emerging leader’s pursuit of positive impact. From Morocco to South Africa, Germany to Canada, Brazil and the United States, these young leade ...
  • Authors
    Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo
    Bernardo Sorj
    Frannie Léautier
    Iskander Erzini Vernoit
    Kassie Freeman
    Nathalie Delapalme
    J. Peter Pham
    March 7, 2022
    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the global economy and has challenged the best minds to rethink how to design and implement an effective recovery. Countries in the wider Atlantic region have exhibited differential trajectories in traversing the pandemic. A number of countries in Europe succeeded in vaccinating most of their eligible populations, enabling life to return somewhat to normal. A smaller group of countries in Europe could manage infection rates even more ti ...
  • November 12, 2021
    The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed flaws in healthcare systems around the world. Despite the inequalities between the different countries in the strength of these systems and the social safety nets, the common observation is that we must rethink social contracts and the relationship betw...