#democratic-backsliding

#democratic-backsliding

In a deeply divided democracy, an aspiring authoritarian seizes new powers, often by declaring "emergencies" when none exist. This is only possible after he cobbles together a strong alliance of far-right forces in the military, conservative religious nationalists, a few massively wealthy oligarchs, and some centrists spooked by the specter of "socialism." Freedoms are curtailed, institutions are undermined, and critics become "enemies of the people." Before long, troops are in city streets-and not too long after that, democracy is gone.

They are joined by Hardy Merriman, an expert on the history and practice of civil resistance, to discuss what kinds of coördinated actions-protests, boycotts, "buycotts," strikes, and other nonviolent approaches-are most effective in a fight against democratic backsliding. "Acts of non-coöperation are very powerful," Merriman, the former president of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, says. "Non-coöperation is very much about numbers. You don't necessarily need people doing things that are high-risk. You just need large numbers of people doing them."

For millions of Ugandans under 40, Yoweri Museveni is the only president they have ever known. And that's unlikely to change soon, as he prepares for yet another campaign after the Ugandan electoral commission confirmed the final list of candidates for the upcoming presidential election next February. Museveni, 81, first came to power in 1986 following an armed rebellion that deposed Milton Obote, and has become one of the world's longest-serving leaders.

The General Assembly is the primary deliberative body of the United Nations and, in effect, of global diplomacy. This year's session will comprise delegations from all 193 UN member states, which all have equal representation on a "one state, one vote" basis. Unlike other UN bodies, such as the Security Council, this means all members have the same power when it comes to voting on resolutions. It is also the only forum where all member states are represented.

The first time I ate a was in 2003, and after one bite of that soupy, oversize dumpling, I became obsessed with the food of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. I started making pilgrimages to Georgian restaurants wherever I could find them, snarfing down cheese-stuffed breads and garlic chicken, pickled walnuts and those delicious khinkali. I often imagined what the food would taste like in its motherland, but for 20 years I was too busy and broke to trek to the small, mountainous nation.

Guineas military rulers have suspended the country's three main opposition parties, including that of former President Alpha Conde, in the run-up to a constitutional referendum next month. The order on Saturday prevents Conde's Rally of the Guinean People, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress from engaging in any political activities for 90 days with immediate effect.