Wednesday, February 28, 2018

China Embraces Authoritarianism; Defending Democracy; Syria War Worsening; Italy Votes; Takeaways from 2018 Olympics

Quote of the Week:

"70 years ago today a communist coup destroyed democracy in my native Czechoslovakia. The coup forced my family into exile, and months later we were welcomed as refugees into the USA. Ever since I've been a grateful American, and I've learned to never take democracy for granted."

-- Madeleine Albright, Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group and former U.S. Secretary of State , in a tweet on Sunday. 

China Embraces Authoritarianism

"In China, the Dawn of the Xi Dynasty?" Ashish Kumar Sen -- Atlantic Council, February 26, 2018

"Xi's Road to Indefinite Rule Through Rule-Making" Krishnadev Calamur -- The Atlantic, February 26, 2018

"Xi Jinping's Latest Power Move, in Context" David Gitter -- The Diplomat, February 27, 2018

"Xi's Move to Erase Term Limits Puts Chinese President on Collision Course with Japan's Abe" Jesse Johnson -- Japan Times, February 26, 2018

"China's Stability Myth Is Dead" James Palmer -- Foreign Policy, February 26, 2018

Defending Democracy

"The Perils of Truth Decay: Q&A with Three RAND Leaders" Doug Irving -- RAND Corporation, February 28, 2018

"How Flawed Constitutions Undermine Democracy" Michael Albertus and Victor Menaldo -- The Washington Post, February 26, 2018

"How Silicon Valley Can Protect U.S. Democracy" Jamie Fly and Laura Rosenberger -- Foreign Affairs, February 22, 2018

Is the Syrian War Worsening?

"Will the Syria Conflict Continue to Escalate?" Nadana Fridrikhson -- The National Interest, February 27, 2018 

"'Siege, Starve, and Surrender': Inside the Next Phase of the Syrian Civil War" Alex Ward -- Vox, February 28, 2018

"UN Links North Korea to Syria's Chemical Weapons Program" Michael Schwirtz -- The New York Times, February 27, 2018

"Why Is Iran Raising the Stakes in Syria?" Heshmat Alavi -- Al Arabiya, February 27, 2018

Italy Goes to the Polls

"The Tiny New Party that May Hold the Key to Italy's Election" Bari -- The Economist, February 21, 2018

"Italian Election's Biggest Winner Is Europe" Jacopo Barigazzi -- Politico Europe, February 22, 2018

"Why Italy's Unpredictable Election Is Testing Nerves in Europe" Lauren Said-Moorhouse -- CNN, February 28, 2018

Takeaways from the 2018 Winter Olympics

"Political End to Olympics: North Korea Offers Talks with U.S." Ted Anthony -- PBS News Hour, February 25, 2018

"Can South Korea Save Itself?" Scott Snyder -- Council on Foreign Relations, February 26, 2018