Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Democracy in Danger; Managing North Korea; Asia Rising; Turkey-U.S. Relations Suffer; Political Turmoil in Prague

Quote of the Week:

"Democracy is facing its most serious crisis in decades. Democracy's basic tenets - including guarantees of free and fair elections, the rights ofminorities, freedom of the press, and rule of law - are under siege around the world."

-- Michael Abramowitz, President of Freedom House, in a press releaseabout the Freedom in the World 2018 report, released Tuesday.

Is Democracy in Danger?

"Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis" Michael Abramowitz -- Freedom House, January 16, 2018 [Report]

"Democracy Is Far from Dead" Bruce Jones and Michael O'Hanlon -- Brookings, January 10, 2018

"Time to Renew the Democracy Playbook" Lauren Mooney and Shannon Green -- CSIS, January 12, 2018

"How's Democracy Holding Up After Trump's First Year?" Uri Friedman -- The Atlantic, January 13, 2018

Asia Rising

"America's Economic Future Rests on Its Partnership with Asia" Richard Fontaine and Daniel Kliman -- The National Interest, January 13, 2018

"How China Infiltrated U.S. Classrooms" Ethan Epstein -- Politico, January 16, 2018

Managing North Korea

"Japan, Canada Vow to 'Maximize Pressure' on North Korea Through Vancouver Talks" Editorial Board -- Nikkei Asian Review, January 16, 2018

"North Korea's Unlikely Strategic Opening" George Friedman -- RealClear World, January 16, 2018

"The Olympics Will Only Make the Korea Crisis Worse" David Clay Large -- Foreign Policy, January 16, 2018

"Rethinking North Korean Sanctions: Lessons and Strategies for Long-Term Planning" Kate Hewitt -- 38 North, January 16, 2018

"The Consequences of War with North Korea" Abigail Stowe-Thurston and Erin Connolly -- Teen Vogue, January 4, 2018

Turkey-U.S. Relations Devolve Over Syria

"U.S.-Backed Force Could Cement a Kurdish Enclave in Syria" Anne Barnard -- The New York Times, January 16, 2018

"Twilight of the Kurds" Joost Hiltermann and Maria Fantappie -- Foreign Policy, January 16, 2018

"Syria War: Turkey Denounces U.S. 'Terror Army' Plan for Border" Editorial Board -- BBC, January 15, 2018

No Confidence for the Czech Republic

"Czech Government Quits After Confidence Vote, Uncertain Talks Ahead" Robert Muller and Jason Hovet -- Reuters, January 17, 2018

"Czech Republic Faces Political Turmoil After No-Confidence Vote" Hana de Goeij -- The New York Times, January 16, 2018

"The Czech Republic's Pro-Russian President Is In Trouble" Editorial Board -- The Economist, January 16, 2018