authoritarianism - Page 8 of 8

Sen. Webb’s Burmese Vacation

Staff / Truthdig Aug 14, 2009 Sen. Jim Webb is the first senior U.S. official in more than 10 years to visit Burma, triggering speculation that the White House may be trying to nudge the authoritarian regime there into a "new era of engagement." The trip follows the recent ludicrous sentencing of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 more months of house arrest. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Milgram Experiment Revisited

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2008 A new study mirroring the infamous 1963 Milgram experiment has suggested that humans will still follow authority's beckon, even to the point of killing another person. The new report, timely considering the current debate around torture in the U.S., argues that it's not that humans are bad, but that "a massive social influence [is] going on." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Russia Clears Way for Putin

Staff / Truthdig Nov 14, 2008 If you thought U.S. democracy was a sham, consider a constitutional amendment passed by the Russian parliament Wednesday that lengthens the country's presidential term from four years to six, paving the way for a certain Vladimir Putin to come back to power as president as early as next year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Burma Death Toll Now at 78,000

Staff / Truthdig May 16, 2008 As the official death toll climbs in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, the Burmese government remains recalcitrant while survivors and aid workers continue to be frustrated by the slow movement of supplies to the country's worst-hit areas. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )