Two things — watchdogs and sunset provisions — help prevent governments from restricting rights indefinitely

National governments should harness the power and ambition of their local leaders to help solve global challenges. The power of sub-national engagement has been underestimated. Read my op-ed in The Hill here.

If the City and State Diplomacy Act becomes law, the Office of Subnational Diplomacy it creates would give cities a formal role in U.S. international diplomacy. Read my article in CityLab here.

Lawmakers in historically strong democracies are proposing and passing legislation that adds new layers of red tape, restricts access to foreign financial support, and makes it harder and riskier to engage in peaceful protests. Read my piece in The Conversation about this spreading trend.

More and more laws imposing new restrictions on civil society organizations are appearing in historically strong democratic states.

The war against foreign-funded NGOs — from India to Israel — is harming democratic governance, not enhancing it  

How Illiberal Leaders Attack Civil Society: What’s Happening in Central Europe Is Part of a Larger Trend