Dissidents and Dictators

For decades, the Communist regime in Cuba has sold an image of a nation with high human development, boosted by its alleged world class healthcare system and education. However, reality tells a story of coercion, lies, and misery. The case of the Cuban dictatorship is not unique. Other regimes have positioned themselves as having achieved commendable levels of development: Chile under Pinochet, Kazakhstan under Nazarbayev, and numerous others. In this episode, economic historian and Assistant Professor at George Mason University Vincent Geloso discusses how authoritarianism is a poor vehicle for development, and how an expansion of rights and democracy has been a driving force behind the improvement in the lives of billions over the past century.

Recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, DJ Switch recounts in this episode how she survived the October 20, 2020 #LekkiMassacre in Lagos State, Nigeria. This tragedy was the worst case of violence to take place during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. She describes how the protests illustrate the defiance of the current generation of Nigerian youth, dubbed the “coconut head generation” for their determination to speak out and stand up against oppression and poor governance.

Over the last decade, the frequency, severity, and duration of government-imposed internet shutdowns has been fast accelerating. Used to quash dissent and stifle democratic participation, shutdowns are a blunt tool that strip individuals of their human rights, and cause untold damage to economies, education, and healthcare. Recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, this episode outlines the tactics authoritarian regimes have used to impose internet shutdowns, and explores the many consequences they hold. Guests include Scott Carpenter, Director of Policy and International Engagement at Jigsaw; Justin Henck, Product Manager at Jigsaw; Vinicius Fortuna, Software Engineer Lead at Jigsaw; Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner and #KeepItOn Lead at Access Now; Roya Ensafi, Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan; and Marianne Díaz Hernández, Venezuelan activist and #KeepItOn Fellow.

The gaming industry has taken the world by storm since the 1970s. Technological advancements over the past several decades have allowed PC, mobile, and console games to incorporate new designs and new storylines. These advances have helped the industry to expand dramatically, attracting diverse audiences with various interests, including sports, music, and current events. Recorded at SXSW 2022, this panel discussion explores how video games have become not only a hobby, but also even an avenue for activism. Guests include Kristin Bässe, Public Relations Officer at Reporters Without Borders Germany; Jerry Chan, Co-founder of Zeitgeist Studio; Navid Khonsari, Founder of iNK Stories; and Alvaro Piaggio, Policy Advisor at HRF.

Dictatorships frequently use art and culture as propaganda to create cults of personality and maintain legitimacy. The totalitarian aesthetic is familiar to many of us from films and documentaries of the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany: tanks driving down wide boulevards; paintings of toiling workers; military uniforms laden with medals; and films depicting past glories. But for billions of people who continue to live under authoritarian regimes, these images and experiences continue to be a part of everyday life. Recorded at SXSW 2022, this panel discussion explores how dictators co-opt cultural institutions with visual propaganda, using dress, art, film, and architecture to instill fear, impose their vision of society, and reinforce their authoritarian regimes. Guests include Louisa Lim, award-winning author, journalist, and former correspondent at BBC’s Beijing Desk and NPR from Hong Kong; Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University; and Alexander Sikorski, Policy Officer at HRF.

Leopoldo López, a Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist, talks about his experience in prison, the abuses he suffered while being detained, and his hopes for democracy in Venezuela and around the world.

"One month ago, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s army has mercilessly targeted civilian areas, including apartment blocs, hospitals, and civilian shelters. The war crimes of Putin's regime are clear to all, as millions of refugees flee the conflict and thousands perish. In response to Putin’s murderous behavior, the United States and other democracies have imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting the Russian banking sector, Russian exports, and over 100 individuals, including some of Putin’s closest oligarch allies. However, these sanctions did not target the most important segment of the Russian economy — the export of oil and gas. They also did not address a deeper problem, which is the ability of Russian oligarchs to hide their money in the West. This week, we examine how oligarchs conduct business in the West, the impact of Western sanctions on Russia, and the types of reforms and sanctions democracies need to implement to change Putin’s behavior. On this week’s episode of Dissidents & Dictators, we have three guests. Casey Michel is an investigative journalist and the author of American Kleptocracy, which studies how the United States has become a haven for stolen wealth. Bill Browder is the CEO Hermitage Capital, and the Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice campaign. Hagar Chemali is a professor at Columbia University and a former official at the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes."

On February 24th, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heavy artillery, missile strikes, and bombs have targeted civilian areas, destroying housing, hospitals, and orphanages. Many of these attacks are war crimes. There are already millions of refugees, and many thousands of casualties. This war is Putin’s war. Putin has wielded violence as the key tool in shaping a system that gives him unrivaled power and wealth, both within Russia and worldwide. Putin’s regime is one of today’s gravest threats to democracy and human rights worldwide. On this week's Dissidents & Dictators podcast, we have three guests. Garry Kasparov is Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation and an ardent critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Anne Applebaum is an American-Polish journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who writes extensively on communism and the development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. Yulia Marushevska is a Ukrainian civil activist, economic growth expert, and the former Head of the Odessa Customs.

Since 2014, the Russian military has fought a war against Ukraine, annexed the Crimean peninsula, supported seperatist forces in the Donbas, and used cyber attacks to destabilize Ukrainian government services. On February 22, Russia commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, intensifying a war that has already cost more than 14,000 lives. Amidst the uncertainty of the situation, we examine why Russian dictator Vladimir Putin sought to destabilize Ukraine and started the largest war in Europe since 1945. Our guest this week is Molly McKew, a writer and researcher of Russian influence and information warfare. She is the lead author of greatpower.us, which explores what great power competition looks like in an era of asymmetric warfare and hybrid influence. Her articles have appeared in Politico, Wired, The Washington Post, Lawfare, and other publications. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she teaches Russian hybrid warfare. This podcast was recorded before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A conversation between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and HRF Chairman Garry Kasparov about how dictator Alexander Lukashenko stole the 2020 presidential election, how Belarus rose up, and how she has been advocating around the world for the release of political prisoners, an end to political violence, and free and fair elections in Belarus.