For this week's 2301 introduction:
- Russia's civilization model? It's autocracy. A scholar reacts to Vladimir Putin's claim that his attempt to expand power have been beneficial to Russia.
- Hungary's Rush Towards Autocracy. "Its right-wing nationalist government has launched an assault on its democratic system
of government. Using a two-thirds majority in parliament, it has pushed
through a new constitution as well as a series of fundamental laws that
give the ruling party sweeping powers over the judiciary, the media,
churches and the central bank. With the new charter and laws taking
effect Jan. 1, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban now more
resembles the autocratic regimes of Russia and Belarus than fellow E.U.
democracies."
