The rise of autocracy has become a defining challenge for modern democracies. Autocracy in the 21st century is an interconnected global phenomenon. What does it mean? It means autocracy doesn't function in isolation now.

Nowadays, different autocracies are networked together and function through various mechanisms. Autocratic regimes, despite ideological differences, allied together to resist democratic values. For example, countries like China, Iran and Russia have common goals. Russia is a nationalist state, China is a communist state and Iran is a theocratic state.

All these states differ in ideology but they have a common goal across the globe: to undermine the rule of law, an independent judiciary, independent media and human rights — which threaten their authority. These states not only suppress opposition within their borders but also go hand in hand in coordinating efforts to discredit the democratic allure on the global stage.

Autocracies work slowly and gradually. They........

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