Armenia – further changes and challenges ahead in 2018
Current developments in Armenia, following the April 2018 revolution ('Velvet Revolution') and advent to power of Nikol Pashinian, seem to prompt a mix of optimism and caution. On the upside,…
What Brexiting Britain can learn from Bern
At first sight, EU relations with Switzerland might seem a ‘niche’ topic for a British observer. But in fact current developments are rather important in understanding potential models for the…
The rise of illiberal civil society in the former Soviet Union?
Charting the rise of illiberal groups in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan.
18/07/18
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The rise of illiberal civil society in the former Soviet Union?
Charting the rise of illiberal groups in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan.
18/07/18
Closing the Door: the challenge facing activists from the former Soviet Union seeking asylum or refuge
The challenge facing activists from the former Soviet Union seeking asylum or refuge.
04/12/17
The information battle: How governments in the former Soviet Union promote their agendas & attack their opponents abroad
How governments of former Soviet Union (FSU) shape international narratives & challenge opponents.
16/03/17
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Armenia – further changes and challenges ahead in 2018
Current developments in Armenia, following the April 2018 revolution ('Velvet Revolution') and advent to power of Nikol Pashinian, seem to prompt a mix of optimism and caution. On the upside,…
What Brexiting Britain can learn from Bern
At first sight, EU relations with Switzerland might seem a ‘niche’ topic for a British observer. But in fact current developments are rather important in understanding potential models for the…
The rise of illiberal civil society: Executive summary
This publication examines the growing influence of illiberal, anti-Western and socially conservative civil society groups, popular movements and political forces in five post-Soviet states: Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.…
Introduction: The Rise of Illiberal Civil Society?
From Trump to Duterte, from Orbán to Erdogan, from Putin to PiS, socially conservative, nationalist and populist political forces are on the rise across the globe. The claim that we…
From a Pro-Russian to a Pro-Georgian Narrative
The 2018 State Security Service of Georgia report[1] set out for the first time, the major objectives of ‘foreign intelligence services’ in Georgia: to encourage anti-Western sentiments in Georgian society;…
Public Space: The battleground in the Revanchist City
On May 13th 2018, the space encompassing the Parliament building, Kashueti church and Freedom Square, 'Les Lieux de Mémoire'[1] in Tbilisi for the most of Georgians, was physically and symbolically…
Rise of the illiberal civil society in Georgia and its organisation
Aggression and violence towards liberal groups have risen significantly in Georgia since 2017. The rise of Neo-Nazi groups has been partly consolidated as a protest in response to the government’s…
The unique extra-parliamentary power of Ukrainian radical nationalists is a threat to the political regime and minorities
The Ukrainian far right and Euromaidan Electorally Ukrainian far-right parties have not been successful in comparison with their Western European counterparts. Before 2012 only a few MPs from any Ukrainian…
Moldova: How can we get back to the future?
The evolution of the illiberal/conservative discourse in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is similar to what is happening in the rest of Europe: a rise of xenophobia, nationalism,…
The rise of illiberal civil society in Moldova
The Republic of Moldova is a former Soviet country, caught in internal and external conflicts, powered by geopolitics and with a strong division of society. Different social groups are divided…
The ‘Nation-Army’ concept: The story of failed national-militaristic propaganda in Armenia
In October 2016, the ‘nation army’ concept was brought onto the agenda of Armenian political life by the then newly appointed Defence Minister Vigen Sargsyan, something that would come to…
The Changing Landscape of Uncivil Society in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is correctly regarded as among the most democratic leaning of the post-Soviet states. It is the only country in Central Asia that consistently earns a “partly free” rating in…
Illiberal forces put women’s rights under strain in Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia is commonly known in the international community as a landlocked and autocratic region of post-Soviet Asia that is sandwiched between the competing geopolitical interests of two world superpowers.…
Transnational norm mobilization: The World Congress of Families in Georgia and Moldova
The focus of civil society research in the social and political sciences has, for the most part, been on progressive and liberal groups and movements who defend the cause of…
Conclusions and recommendations
The contributions to this collection make a number of important observations about the social and political landscape in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan. With the partial exception of Ukraine,…