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Eight years since the Russian annexation of Crimea, Ukraine is facing another threat from its eastern neighbour. Russia has amassed an estimated 130,000 troops and military equipment along its borders in recent weeks.

Ukraine is literally surrounded by Russian troops: along its northern border with Belarus, in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk), in Crimea to the south, and in Transnistria, the Russian-occupied part of Moldova to the west.

Despite these disturbing developments, Russia continues to deny any planned aggression towards Ukraine. Russia is not only the second-largest natural gas producer in the world it is also extremely good as gaslighting.

As the official Russian rhetoric goes, Ukraine and Russia are one people belonging to the same historical and spiritual space.

However, this claim is a historical fabrication. It is strategically deployed to de-legitimise Ukraines claims to nationhood and by extension, sovereignty and bring it back into Russias orbit of influence.

The significant military buildup on Ukraines border is part of a larger coordinated geopolitical offensive called reflexive control.

Read more: How Russian is Ukraine? (Clue: not as much as Vladimir Putin insists)

Reflexive control involves a wide variety of hybrid warfare tactics, such as deception, distraction, deterrence and provocation. Weve seen these tactics playing out in the rising number of cyber attacks on Ukraines government servers and energy grid, to the Russian state-sponsored disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing distrust and discord in the country.

In many cases, these disinformation campaigns have originated online with the help of the Internet Research Agency, a troll factory in Russia.

Reflexive control also involves the potential for so-called false-flag operations terrorist acts allegedly committed by Ukraine on Russian territory or involving Russian citizens. These types of incidents can be used to justify a military incursion into a sovereign state.

The roots of Russian interventions in Ukraine go much deeper than its illegal annexation of Crimea and occupation of large parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in 2014, and its actions on the border today. In fact, Ukraine has been subjected to Russian interference since becoming an independent state in 1991.

This influence has manifested in myriad ways, from economic and political coercion to cultural conformism. This includes weaponising Ukraines energy dependency on Russia, a near-complete russification of Ukraines media, attempts to install pro-Kremlin governments, and even high-profile assassinations of journalists and political activists.

Ukraine has seen two major waves of popular protests against rising Russian influence. The first was the Orange Revolution of 2004 following Russian attempts to rig Ukraines presidential election to try to ensure the pro-Russian candidate, Viktor Yanukovych, won.

Another protest broke out in 2013 after Yanukovych, then president, refused to sign a political association agreement with the European Union, opting instead to join a customs union with Russia. This was known as the Revolution of Dignity, or the Maidan Revolution.

In both cases, Russian official rhetoric used these revolutions as evidence of Ukraine being subverted by the West. This effectively de-legitimised their true causes and the public sentiment around them.

One of the most prominent Russian narratives was that Ukraine was a failed state a country governed by chaos, swarming with radicals and fascists, and on the brink of a civil war. Conveniently, this vilification also served as a cautionary tale to prevent any pro-democratic protests from erupting in Russia.

The Maidan Revolution eventually succeeded in Yanukovych being removed from office. But Russia took advantage of the transition of power by sending uniformed men with no insignia to covertly take over government buildings in Crimea. It was the most significant breach of territorial integrity in Europe since the second world war.

A secession referendum was then held in Crimea that was the exact kind of democracy the Ukrainian people have fought so hard to overthrow.

It does not take a mathematical genius to question the validity of a near-unanimous vote to secede (96.77%) in a region comprised of only 60% ethnic Russians, many of whom had Ukrainian citizenship and did not support the secession.

Russias next move was to orchestrate an insurgency in eastern Ukraine stoked initially by Russian special operations units and paramilitary groups.

I have written extensively on how a handful of citizens in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol were able to successfully counter a so-called insurgency after seeing their city suddenly flooded by strangers who spoke an unfamiliar dialect of Russian, had a hard time paying in Ukrainian currency and repeatedly asked locals for directions.

These strangers locals called them political tourists were sent to Mariupol from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to instigate pro-Russian demonstrations. Similar operations took place throughout 2014 in many other Ukrainian cities.

In hindsight, Ukrainian activists were perhaps the only reason the Russian army couldnt advance further into the country eight years ago. They quickly identified these patterns across the country and organised against the interlopers.

Yet, as is often the case with gaslighting, the burden of proof is on the victim many in the West still repeat Russias civil war narrative to this day.

Read more: Don't call it a civil war Ukraine's conflict is an act of Russian aggression

In the face of such an existential threat, Ukraine has experienced profound social, political and cultural transformations.

Over the past eight years of occupation, hundreds of grassroots volunteer initiatives have stepped up to help the country recover from the humanitarian crisis stemming from the long-running conflict and counteract a full-scale military invasion.

This type of civil society activism is the cornerstone of democracies around the world. There is still a long way to go in Ukraine, but these emerging foundations can now be observed in nearly every aspect of public life.

Ukrainians do not want democracy because they are being subverted by the West, as Russia claims. Ukrainians want democracy because it paves the way from an imperial Russian borderland to a sovereign statehood.

Allowing Russia to thwart these aspirations and re-invade Ukraine sets a dangerous precedent for other sovereign states trying to break away from their violent and traumatic past.

See the rest here:
Why Ukrainians are ready to fight for their democracy - The Conversation AU

The writer is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland's First District. He grew up on a small farm in Carroll County, Maryland. He can be reached at Dave@hardenforcongress.com

Democrats lose 90% of all rural counties in America. Why? Because they run weak candidates who simply do not align with the culture, values, hopes, aspirations, concerns and worries of rural folks. The messaging and policies for urban and suburban communities are not tailored to rural communities. The Democrats simply dismiss "those people" as politically expedient at best, or a lost cause at worst.

Even today, there is little evidence that the Democratic establishment understands these failures. Politicians endorsing politicians, party elites tipping the scales, political hacks who are "ahead of their time," none of this works for rural folks. The result: the Democrats' rural strategy has failed election after election.

The Democrats' failure to appeal to rural voters has consequences. Extreme polarization exacerbated by partisan gerrymandering and the growing urban-rural divide increases the risk that America slips into authoritarianism. We see three challenges right here in Maryland.

Third, the census revealed that four Eastern Shore and two western counties lost population in the last decade. Declining populations mean fewer jobs, fewer services, fewer opportunities, less of a tax base and more grievances.

Most worryingly, these political-economic trends are happening amid the accelerating threats to our democracy. The January 6 attacks on our Capitol may just be practice if Donald Trump runs for president in 2024 and his enablers, like Andy Harris from Maryland's First District, remain in power.

America needs the Democrats to be competitive in rural communities just like we need Republicans to be competitive in big cities.

Here is what rural folks want: we want to close the wealth gap. We want our kids to have opportunities at home. We want know-it-all politicians to stop speaking to us like we are a bunch of rednecks who are too stupid to vote our economic interests. We want to be valued and heard on our terms.

Democrats can, of course, deliver economic opportunities and the related respect. Broadband, infrastructure, localized renewable energy, decentralized energy grids, rural accelerators and incubators, less regulations on small businesses, tighter connections to high-end markets, next-generation vocational schools can all lead to revitalized growth and economic opportunity in our rural communities. But this requires that the Democrats compete in local elections by charting an independent path forward which aligns with the sensibilities of communities that too often feel left behind and forgotten.

I was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to lead our democracy efforts and conflict stabilization activities around the world. I have worked in fragile countries for decades. Given these experiences, I believe democracy in America is at risk. If the Democrats get it wrong in 2022 by losing to authoritarian incumbents like Andy Harris yet again, America could very well slip into a full blown authoritarian state by 2024.

Despite its imperfections, our generation was given an extraordinary gift of democracy. It is our responsibility to protect and defend our nation's legacy. We must begin by electing pro-democracy candidates to safeguard our sacred democratic institutions and norms. All other issues are secondary.

For more stories from Maryland Matters, visit http://www.marylandmatters.org.

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Opinion: Given His Experiences, The Author Says, "I Believe Democracy In America Is At Risk" - Patch.com

LAHORE: Democracy cannot function without local governments. Obstacles were put in the way of transfer of powers to the grassroots level by the PTI government, said PML-N leaders while addressing a press conference at Model Town on Friday.

Awais Leghari, Ataullah Tarar, Azma Bukhari and members of the Standing Committee on Local Bodies of the Punjab Assembly said the PMLN had successfully held LG elections in 2016 in which more than 58,000 people were elected. He said Buzdar pushed the province into darkness. After 30 months of court battle, the Supreme Court restored LG institutions. He said despite not appointing Hamza Shehbaz as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee-1, the PMLN became part of the Standing Committee on Local Body Elections.

He said there is no preparation for LG elections. It is not possible to buy 65,000 machines and train 200,000 people. The opposition is not being represented in any panel. Municipal committees and corporations have been abolished. Union councils are being given different names.

Ataullah Tarar said 58,000 people had been sent home, who were restored by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Usman Buzdar has no importance and Imran Khan is controlling Punjab from Islamabad. Excessive powers have been given to the secretary Local Government. This will not be allowed to happen in Punjab. There will be no compromise on EVMs. Those responsible for Daska elections have not been punished, he said, adding that local government elections are not possible through

EVMs. Municipal committees of urban areas have been abolished without consultation. The PMLN will soon issue a schedule for protests against the LG bill, Leghari said and added the government has not listened to the PMLN. If the chief minister, ministers and secretaries are to be given powers, there is no point in holding local body elections. Tarar said that boycotting the elections is not a solution in any case. In this system, all powers have been given to the secretary Local Government.

See the article here:
Democracy cant function without local govts: PMLN - The News International

People hold a sign against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and vaccinations during a rally against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, in Ottawa, on Jan. 29.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

Omer Aziz is author of the forthcoming book Brown Boy: A Story of Race, Religion and Inheritance.

They came in droves from all over the country, packed into cars and pickup trucks, cheered on by supporters along the way. They saw their freedoms under attack and converged on the nations capital in an attempt to force the resignation of a democratically elected government, using intimidation and threats to showcase their power. Desiring greater liberty, some displayed Confederate flags and Nazi swastikas, defiled national monuments, desecrated the memory of war heroes, and demanded that federal leaders be overthrown.

What I am describing happened in the United States on Jan. 6, 2021, and is still going on in Canada. The truckers movement is no longer a demonstration for freedom or vaccine mandates, but a well-funded assault on democracy. As one organizer put it, their mission was to compel the government to dissolve government. We must be clear about what took place in Canada last weekend: an attempt to alter government policy by force while masquerading as a rally for freedom. More dangerously, it was a movement insidiously co-opted by white nationalists and their far-right allies.

Over the past two years, the feeling that our freedoms have been encroached through government-mandated lockdowns and requirements to present medical certificates is almost universal. The pandemic has taken a huge mental and financial toll on families, especially working-class ones who were struggling even before COVID-19 started. We are living through one of the greatest wealth transfers in history from the middle class to the elite. Everyone is hurting but not everyone was protesting in Ottawa.

The issue that prompted these protests was opposition to cross-border vaccine mandates that require unvaccinated truck drivers to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Canada. That is 14 days of being without work although the solution is one that approximately 90 per cent of truckers have abided by, which is getting vaccinated. Still, listening to some of the protesters, I have empathy for people whose livelihoods have been disrupted and who feel deep uncertainty about the future. No one has enjoyed this pandemic and the ruptures it has caused in our lives.

Calling COVID-19 vaccine mandates a crime against humanity isnt just wrong, its dangerous

I come at this from a unique perspective. All my uncles on my mothers side of the family are truck drivers. They immigrated to Canada 20 years ago and built a successful trucking business. They employ a dozen people, and make cross-border trips. I asked one uncle, who is vaccinated, what he made of the convoy, which was officially condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

When you are a trucker, he said, it is not just a job, but a profession. Some people dont know anything else. Theyve been truckers their whole lives. Its not an option to just go and do something else. Truckers are essential workers. If you dont have truckers, you dont have food.

That said, having seen racist signs and symbols in the crowd, he could not support the protests, he told me.

My uncle pointed out that all of the Sikh and Muslim truck drivers he knew and South Asians constitute roughly one-fifth of all Canadian truckers were vaccinated. And, indeed, what I didnt see at the protests were many black or brown or Asian people.

The demand to be exempted from rules that bind everyone else is the clearest definition of white privilege I can think of. This is the thing about democracy that the convoy organizers, in all their innocence, do not understand: that rights come with responsibilities, and freedom comes with duties. This vaccine mandate is no different than other areas of compelled action wearing seatbelts, getting the measles shot, showing ID before purchasing alcohol, paying your taxes. We dont change legislation by force, or litter and blockade a capital city if we dont get our way. At some point, the protesters will have to meet the consequences of the law if they try to shut down the centre of government.

What is especially distressing is how many members of one political party in particular have been goading and supporting this convoy. At least the mask is off, and the Conservatives are now being honest about where their sympathies lie. While some Conservatives condemned the Confederate and Nazi symbols, others were willing to look the other way. Some of the partys grassroots energy is shifting toward the white nationalist movement, and the Tories will have to take ownership of any destruction these protests cause. Every Canadian should ask themselves: What would happen if the protesters got their way? Would the government be forced to resign? Would our democracy fall? Its a chilling reality to ponder, and one that the freedom organizers, and evidently some politicians, envisage as our future.

The images from the weekend Terry Foxs statue vandalized, the National War Memorial urinated on, the symbol of Hitlerism flown on Parliament Hill will be hard to forget. But they do not represent Canada. The rest of us are the silent majority, and we will fight to preserve and protect this inclusive, democratic project called Canada. Our collective future including the future of truckers depends on it.

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Opinion: What's happening in Ottawa is an assault on democracy - The Globe and Mail

New Delhi: During the motion of thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha on Friday, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha emphasised the need for empathy from the government during the pandemic and said the biggest threat to Indian democracy is from "hero worship".

Jha accused the government of dividing the country on the lines of religion. He also said those who tried to mess with the texts of the past ended up in the footnotes of history.

"I'm surprised that Pakistan doesn't fight elections in our (India's) name, but our elections are in Pakistan's nameWorld history is witness that whoever has tried to mess with the texts of the past, tried to change them, ended up in the footnotes of history. History didn't change," he said.

Jha also spoke of the recent protest by railway-job aspirants for the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB).

"The President spends his day talking to his advisors, watching television, checking social media and having discussions. Does he not feel that the country's visuals are not great. Tear gas on studentswhat were they demanding? They weren't asking for the moon. They were asking for jobs. Not the ones paying Rs 2 crore, they said give us whatever is left. You lathi charged them. I think if the President's address doesn't have these worries, then the speech just feels like a piece of paper," he said.

He said the President's speech should be a non-partisan document. "The President is the President of the country. His concerns should be the country's concerns," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi during strong nations cannot be built by insecure governments but can only be built where both its strengths and weaknesses are kept in front of the country.

"We heard the President's speech with a lot of attentionafter listening to his speech it felt like our country has entered a golden era; our youth is very happy, they have jobs, our women are very happy, they are safe and politically empowered. It felt like the common man has no issues of any kind," she said.

"But the truth is in front of the country, and I hope and believe that strong nations are not built by insecure governments or insecure leadership. Strong nations can only be built where we can keep both our good and bad bits in front of the country."

Chaturvedi said the President's speech did not mention the farmers who had died during the farmers' protest against Centre's farm Bills.

See more here:
Idealization Of Heroes Biggest Threat To Democracy: Manoj Kumar Jha - HW News English