Overseas Voting/Donations and Ukraine: A Model for Opposition Parties Looking to Attract Diaspora Support? Special Report by Attorney Olha Chernovol
Olha Chernovol Ukrainian licensed attorney who works as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa with Jennifer Quaid on her SSHRC-CRSH-funded project exploring non-trial resolutions in anti-corruption matters. Fellow at the uOttawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT & CONTRIBUTIONS FOR POLITCAL PARTIES IN UKRAINE The political party funding issue in Ukraine […]
Cambodia’s Power Diplomat Couple to USA & UN Reject America’s Values Agenda
A plug is due to Politico for its expanding global political coverage. Politico Insider has an interview with Cambodian ambassador to the U.S., Keo Chhea. Canadian journalist gets him to open up on big questions. This week, D.C.-based China Correspondent Phelim Kine talks to Cambodia’s diplomatic power couple in the U.S. about their roles representing […]
Kenya’s Politics Soothed as Dialogue Agreed to – For Now
Kenya tends to a fractious, slow-moving, mutual equilibrium of non-cooperation between the government and the opposition. Still despite the toll political strife imposes, Kenya has made significant gains. The January Election led to a number of court cases as to electoral wrongdoing – a feature of all post-election periods. Opposition International takes a strong stand […]
Opposition parties Abolished by Myanmar Junta – As Expected
By Associated Press BANGKOK — Myanmar’s military government took another major step in its ongoing campaign to cripple its political opponents on Wednesday, dissolving dozens of opposition parties including that of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to meet a registration deadline ahead of elections. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, or NLD, was one of 40 […]
Freedom House: Best Message Yet from Democracy Summit
Freedom House seeks to both highlight and combat authoritarian repression, in part by emphasizing its human toll. The experiences of the individuals profiled here illustrate the significant pressures and harms that human rights defenders and prodemocracy activists face in reprisal for their work. Located around the globe, these artists, journalists, and activists often languish in […]
And the Oscar goes to the Opposition – the Leader of Russia’s – Alexey Navalny
The Hill, the congressional newspaper does not usually run stories about Oscar movie awards, This year was the exception. The documentary film, Navalny, won the award for best feature length documentary. Alexey Navalny leads the Russia of the Future Party and is a member of the opposition coordination council. Directed by Daniel Roher, the film […]
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Cautious Report on Democracy in Bangladesh
The APFC’s CAST brief pulls together a number of recent media stories — with some minor omissions — and without much analysis. The point of their article is to echo the official Global Affairs Canada position. The ringing in your ears is the sotto voce refrain of an old tune, “we are Canadian and we […]
OECD on Civic Space – same message holds for political space
https://www.oecd.org/gov/the-protection-and-promotion-of-civic-space-d234e975-en.htm A recent OECD Report details and affirms in-depth that a freer and better protected civil society improves every aspect of a society. It dispels the old argument that a government needs to be released from external civic critiques in order to concentrate efforts on reform. In short, governments who restrict civic space spend the […]
Kem Sokha sentenced to 27 years for treason – If Cambodia is not on S4D Agenda at Costa Rica, What’s the Message?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64832748 Jonathan Head in BBC … Aljezeera … HRW … WP NADA NYT? The U.S. Department of State … “The United States is deeply troubled by the conviction and 27-year sentence of respected Cambodian political leader Kem Sokha. The multi-year process to silence him, based on a politically-motivated charge, is unjust and profoundly diminishes the […]
The Philippines Remembers 1986 “People Power,” Awkward Moment for President Marcos Jr, Son of Overthrown Autocrat
The AP story below carries the relevant details but doesn’t convey the mood of the country. (I write from Cebu where I have been since July last. My first stay in Manila was in 1984.) The anniversary passed more quietly than one might expect. The memory of Corrie Aquino’s People Power is held in esteem. […]
Must Watch Event: Opposition in South Asia at Carnegie Endowment 28/2
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/02/28/unpacking-politics-of-opposition-in-south-asia-event-8037 The event is timely and important with excellent speakers. However! No one is scheduled to speak about the opposition in Bangladesh. I would guess there is a story why that is so. I will be watching. I recommend the same for followers of Opposition International. The organizers are bang on about the focus being […]
Lead up to July Election: PM Hun Sen Shuts Voice Of Democracy (VOD) media
Will Cambodia’s situation be raised at the US-led Summit of Democracies in Costa Rica? Civicus, a prominent NGO based in South Africa, has released a signed petition to protest the order by the Government of Cambodia to revoke the Voice of Democracy’s media licence. It is believed an article about the Prime Minister’s son, Hun […]
Value of Opposition: Maharashtra legislators unite to oppose government moves against inter-faith marriage
Opposition leaders can act as the public conscience on sensitive legislation when times require courage. The Wire one of India’s new media sources runs a story providing an example. Maharashtra opposition parties, from Congress to moderate Shiv Sena, have united to form a review panel to oppose state government efforts to monitor — read discourage […]
Interview with Dimash Alzhanov on the electoral manipulation in advance of the legislative elections in Kazakhstan
Dimash provides a guide to the gerrymandering and vote-splitting strategies for the upcoming legislative election. The genuine opposition will have hard time securing seats proportionate to it’s strength. Professor Susan M. Hyde’s thesis on how the complexity of vote rigging bamboozles election observers may about to be proven true. rus.azattyq.org/a/kazakhstan-parliamentary-elections-inteview-analist-dimash-alzhanov/32268308.html
State Political Funding: Australia debates who Pays for Print in a Digital Media Age
An issue has arisen in Australia that may foreshadow changes to funding for political campaigns, in a digital media landcape. Given. Australia’s leadership on political finance, it is instructive to follow their debates. In this case it involves state funding for Yes and No material fir the upcoming Uluru referendum on enshrining an Aboriginal voice […]
The fault lies not in our starry eyes but in ourselves, William S., strategic content analyst, 16th c.
JAMnews has just published a review of a recent Georgia Transparency International study on media disinformation. JAMnews bills itself as a leader in the fight. “With so much misinformation cavalierly and cynically tossed around, it is vitally important that the societies in the Caucasus benefit from journalism that is fact-checked and unbiased, balanced and sensitive. […]
Religion and Other Factors in Nigeria’s Pre-electoral Opposition Coalition Strategies
Dr. Iche Ugwe is currently a Visiting Fellow at the LSE in the U.K. He also follows the Opposition International blog. We take the opportunity to repost remarks from his recent piece on the upcoming 2023 election in the Premium Times of Nigeria, an influential media organ. Opposition International particularly recommends Iche’s nuanced take on […]
A NDI Starting Point: How to be The Opposition
Readers of the Opposition International blog will note a current topic in Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Brazil, and Nigeria is what should an opposition party do. The National Democratic Institute has done work and written on just about every topic in democracy. Lord Mark Malloch Brown complained once that when he left 10 Downing Street to […]
NED Series on Urban-based Digital Surveillance and Authoritarian Control
The series came out on December 15, 2022 and did not cut through the end of the year rush. I finally found time to go through it. Far more substance than usual Internet scaremongering, “The Russians are Coming” and “”Beware of the Red Peril.” Some of it really is scary! DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT As […]
Proportional Representation in Myanmar? A View from In-Country by U Win
It is with gratitude that Opposition International welcomes U Win (a pseudonym for safety reasons) as a contributor. U Win is a researcher and human rights activist from Myanmar, with 10 years’ experience working and writing about politics, human rights and the criminal justice system of Myanmar. U Win’s research interests include access to justice […]
Nigerian Election Results 2019: is the Past a Sure Guide to 2023?
Change from one year or one election from the one before is often exaggerated. We perceive changes more readily than how things stay the same. Politics in particular tends to advance by increments, at least for most generations. Nigeria may test the stasis hypothesis in the upcoming July 2023 election. However, the changes may be […]
Mo Ibrahim foundation report: African governance ‘backslides’ on democracy
Mo Ibrahim foundation report: African governance ‘backslides’ on democracy Mo Ibrahim foundation report: African governance ‘backslides’ on democracy — Read on hicginewsagency.com/2023/01/27/mo-ibrahim-foundation-report-african-governance-backslides-on-democracy/
Cambodia’s Opposition Grassroots Not Pleased with Leadership “walk back” of protest against CPP harassment
The saga of the Government’s legal actions against Candlelight party leader Thach Setha takes an odd twist. After a flurry of threats from PM Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party, some in the Candlelight leadership issued a statement “correcting” its accusations. The Candlelight grassroots are in no mood for kowtowing. They are the front line. They […]
Prof Nic Cheeseman and The Africa Report: required reading
Professor Cheeseman’s article on ideas and ideologies stands out as guide to the deeper currents of democracy and opposition in Africa. A professor at the University of Birmingham, he founded http://www.democracyinafrica.org To examine the role of ideas in Africa, a new research group has started. Here’s a telling Cheeseman passage that suggests the role of […]
Have a Safe and Prosperous Lunar New Year (Chinese)
A time to reflect and eat well. From all of us at Opposition International
An Opposition to be Effective Needs Money. Read the Economist’s Bagehot as to Why
Making the case for money in politics ain’t easy. Still, Opposition International agrees with the esteemed Bagehot proper funding improves the quality of the workforce of democracy. A prime directive: we advocate for increased funding of opposition parties with less unrealistic regulations and with substantial yet secure transparency. The past 30 years is littered with […]
ANFREL Calls on International Community to address Opposition Leader’s Setha’s Arrest. OI asks: Is the Summit of Democracies the Venue?
Yesterday, the OI blog reported on the controversial arrest of Candlelight Party leader, Thach Setha, alleged of passing bad cheques, in 2019 – over three years ago. The freer media noticed discrepancies such as the cheques’ not being signed. Others noted the timing in the lead-up to the July 2023 national elections and that Candlelight […]
Cambodian Opposition Leader faces jail accused of bad cheques: Quiet Flows the Mekong
Thach Setha, a head figure in the Candlelight party, current leading opposition party, faces possible jail terms for bouncing cheques in 2019. No one will be surprised if poltical motives are behind charges. The current government for nearly 4o years has pursued through creative legal means any potential rival. The curiosity is that millions of […]
Politics Alive in Vietnam, Pressure for Democratic Liberalization to Increase?
Vietnam remains in the grasp of a war-hardened Communist Party. It has the second highest restrictive Internet censorship, only North Korea exceeds it. A free press and a free judiciary are not planned for any time soon. Yet, it’s semi-capitalist economy is chugging along well with investment capital transferred out of China, a younger and […]
One Year of Opposition International
Corporations Canada sends an email today reminding that Opposition International has existed for one year now and a tax return needs filing by March 14, 2023. Notification of any changes to the Board of Directors or bylaws should also be sent. Changes incur a $200 fee. Over the last year OI has developed a small […]
2022 Kenya Election: Kofi Annan Foundation Report – Stands Out as African Perspective
Kenya’s 2022 election attracted many observer teams from international agencies, large foundations, and a plethora of democracy groups. The Kofi Annan report stand out as among the best and critically as the leading African assessment. https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/publications/report-kenya-2022-post-election-review/ Several court cases continue and their verdicts, while unlikely to alter the results, may provide fresh insights. Opposition International […]
New Movie about Alexei Navalny: Russian Opposition Leader’s Life in Peril
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-navalny-russia-opposition/ Fast Facts About Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Russian opposition leader, Navalny, is quickly becoming a household name in the world of politics. He has taken on the Russian government head-on, and has been arrested and convicted of fraud multiple times. Despite this, his popularity among the Russian people remains high. Navalny’s history and background […]
Brazil election Lula 50.9 Bolsonaro 49.1 Concession?
One close Bolsonaro ally, lawmaker Carla Zambelli, in an apparent nod to the results, wrote on Twitter, “I PROMISE you, I will be the greatest opposition that Lula has ever imagined.” http://www.reuters.com/world/americas/lula-wins-brazilian-election-bolsonaro-has-not-conceded-2022-10-31/
What Does An Opposition want in Bangladesh? A Paradox Revisited
“What made them defy the odds? What does the BNP want to achieve through such mass mobilisation? What message do they want to give to the Awami League? Answers to these questions are crucial to understanding the future course of Bangladesh politics.” so asks Mohammad Al-Masum Molla in The Daily Star, Dhaka’s leading English language […]
Wikipedia: disinformation campaigns against Opposition parties; error correction=digital survival
The linked Wired story about Wikipedia’s 21-year-old struggle against state-sponsored disinformation provides valuable background to the question of campaigns against opposition parties, though not addressing it directly. Most disinformation campaigns are what an informed person would expect. Russian trolls fighting internecine ex-Soviet era battles against upstart nationalists. Chinese army battalions of computer hackers trying to […]
Truss resigns, 1922 Committee saved, BB BoJo
Editorial by Owen Lippert UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned. Pundits are busy parsing what it all means. I report here only the good news. Her resignation saves the 1922 Committee from having to review its rule that a new Conservative leader has a year’s grace from backbench discontent. Esther Webber in Politico’s delicious […]
Canada and International Day of Democracy 2022: “If not now, when?”
Owen Lippert (Ph.D.) Director, Opposition International Since a United Nations Assembly Declaration in 2007, the world has celebrated September 15th as International Day of Democracy. Canada, one of the oldest full franchise democracies, has just cause to celebrate and take a bow. It is also time to ask what Canada is doing to promote democracy […]
Thailand’s Denying True Election Winner Will Lead to Oligopoly and Stagnation
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion Thaksin no longer scares Thailand’s establishment Ex-prime minister’s return and pardon accepted as price of keeping reform at bay Thitinan Pongsudhirak September 6, 2023 05:00 JST Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a professor in the political science faculty of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and a senior fellow at its Institute of Security and International Studies. Thailand’s […]
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Democracy Day 2023
It is a temptation to oversell democracy as a necessary source of social stability, economic equity, and personal emancipation. Democracy, in truth, is not instrumental to any outcome good or bad. It is a way simply to engage most people and thus confer legitimacy. One can only hope the public prefers light over the dark. […]
Coming up this Friday!
TI Maldives Report on Presidential Election: Incumbent Shenigans
Transparency Maldives stands out with the quality of its reporting at a time when more and more election observation reports are evasive, inconclusive, and heavily massaged by concealed interests. The Maldives held its presidential election on September 9, 2023. The election was closely watched by India and China, both of whom are vying for influence […]
Bersih Steering Committee calls for Truce between Malaysian Unity Government and Opposition: Hmmm
Bersih is an important coalition of CSOs and political parties for free and fair elections in Malaysia. Indicating broader support, ANFREL has published Bersih’s article on their website : End the incessant politicking, Take up the Call to Negotiate a New Memorandum of Understanding You can view it from this link : https://anfrel.org/end-the-incessant-politicking-take-up-the-call-to-negotiate-a-new-memorandum-of-understanding/ https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://anfrel.org/end-the-incessant-politicking-take-up-the-call-to-negotiate-a-new-memorandum-of-understanding/ Opposition […]
A dated but conceptually sound examination of Catholic Church and Opposition in Authoritarian States.
I will order the article if people have an interest. Just press theMessenger response button and say mention it.
Opposition Research: A Handy General Guide – bit US-centric
Catholic Church in Congo Active among faith leaders of NEC to bring pressure for F&F Election
Africa Congo’s Catholic church questions government’s election preparations Reuters June 23, 202312:35 PM EDTUpdated 2 months ago https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.587.0_en.html#goog_867976432 The country’s Catholic church has a long history of promoting democracy in the vast African country where organising elections has been complicated by financial and logistical problems, and where disputes over vote tampering have frequently caused widespread […]
Skullduggery in Guatemala to thwart Election Victor
The opposition leader, Bernard Arevalo, wins unexpectedly and the entrenched forces move against him. Shades of the debacle in Thailand. Story in FT is not behind paywall but link cannot be copied.