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Society

In the Crosshairs of the State

October 18, 2021

A wave of authoritarianism is churning from East to West and assailing civil society. Autocrats are threatening democracy, while their regimes portray NGOs as Trojan horses for foreign interference.

https://p.dw.com/p/41W3D
Doku | Im Fadenkreuz der Machthaber
Image: DW

Indien Bauerproteste in Neu-Delhi | Polizei
Image: Amarjeet Kumar Singh/ZUMAPRESS/picture alliance

The resurgence of authoritarianism is impacting countries across the globe, no matter what their form of government. "In the Crosshairs of the State" documents this worldwide phenomenon using the examples of India, Russia, and Poland and shows how civil society is being repressed, and what impact this can have on the future of democracy.

Polen LGBT Proteste
Image: Reuters/Agencja Gazeta/A. Stepien

When populists and autocrats wield power, the first victims are civil liberties. However, regimes aren’t stopping at attacking and imprisoning activists - they go as far as criminalizing entire groups and freezing their funds. These governments are increasingly targeting NGOs and other players in civil society that demand democracy and assert human rights or protest about social grievances and environmental destruction. The methods of choice are defamation campaigns, repression, and criminalization. 

In the past few years, certain countries have passed over 60 laws specifically aiming to systematically impede NGOs’ work or completely put an end to it. The root causes are wide-ranging, but it all boils down to rulers’ desire to remain in power and protect their economic interests. Beyond authoritarian wielders of power, democratic governments are increasingly clamping down on independent and critical players, too.

"Freedom for Navalny"-Proteste in Russland
Image: Anna Ogorodnik/AP/picture alliance

Are we experiencing a full-on global assault on civil society? What happens when the driving force of democracy - the people themselves - is silenced? How can we counter this development? Film director Sebastian Weis investigates these question, relating the situations in India, Russia, and Poland chapter by chapter, with each country representing an overarching issue. India faces environmental destruction, Russians are seeing human rights be eroded, and in Poland women’s rights are under attack.

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

FRI 05.11.2021 – 01:15 UTC
FRI 05.11.2021 – 04:15 UTC
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SAT 06.11.2021 – 15:15 UTC
SUN 07.11.2021 – 19:15 UTC
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