The Intelligence from The Economist Pandemic power-grabs: autocrats’ covid opportunism
Oct 22, 2020
Join Robert Guest, Foreign editor at The Economist, and Olivia Ackland, Central Africa correspondent, as they delve into how autocrats are exploiting the pandemic to undermine democracy. They discuss alarming trends in global governance, highlighting how leaders use health crises to suppress dissent. Olivia brings insights on the cobalt mining crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, revealing the impact of falling prices on local communities and the ethical challenges of the electric vehicle industry.
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Pandemic Power Grabs
- Authoritarian tactics are increasing globally, with 80 countries experiencing declines in democracy and human rights.
- The pandemic provides cover for autocrats to suppress dissent and consolidate power.
Repression in Uganda
- Ugandan MP Francis Zake was arrested and tortured for distributing food aid to his constituents.
- The government claimed his actions could spread COVID-19, highlighting the suppression of aid efforts.
Populism and Pandemics
- Pandemics fuel xenophobia and irrationality, allowing populist leaders to exploit fear.
- Leaders like Modi blame minorities for spreading the virus, increasing discrimination.