Mussolini would have been proud: Italy’s far right is moving into the political establishment
[ 5 minutes to read] Italy knows better than almost any European country what can happen when extreme nationalism stops being…
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What will happen when Le Pen and AfD win?
[ 6 minutes to read] The European far right no longer lives on the political margins. In France, Marine Le Pen’s…
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Whipping, cutting fingers and worse: What Russians and Ukrainians do to their own people
[ 11 minutes to read] Wars are usually narrated horizontally. Russians kill Ukrainians, Ukrainians kill Russians, missiles cross borders, armies capture…
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The spectrum of religious repression: From social pressure to death
[ 23 minutes to read] Religious repression does not always arrive with police officers, prison cells or executioners. Sometimes it arrives…
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Would brutal human rights abuses in Iran stop with regime change?
[ 13 minutes to read] There are many ways to discuss Iran. We can talk about nuclear weapons, uranium enrichment, Israel,…
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The Amish, the Hasidic, and the Taliban: Who is more extreme?
[ 14 minutes to read] It is a comparison that appears surprisingly often. Images of Amish horse-drawn buggies, Hasidic Jews in…
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The secret psychology of dictators
[ 8 minutes to read] Dictators do not emerge randomly. They emerge from deep psychological mechanisms rooted inside human evolution, fear,…
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How did the West make the world religiously radicalized?
[ 5 minutes to read] Modern religious radicalization did not emerge from religion alone. Instead, it emerged from collapsing states, foreign…
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Iran’s leaders: Kill millions, we won’t step down
[ 5 minutes to read] At the most basic level, leadership carries responsibility. If leaders truly cared about their population, then…
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Why humans invent eternity: Different afterlives, one psychology
[ 6 minutes to read] Human beings fear death more than anything else. The body rejects it. The mind rejects it…
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How art and literature have supported freethinking
[ 4 minutes to read] Art and literature always push people away from obedience. They show new angles, they break illusions….
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WW3: Why Trump’s 50% military increase may prevent escalation
[ 3 minutes to read] Donald Trump wants to increase U.S. military spending by roughly 50 percent. This proposal immediately provokes…
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Sorrry, the future for LGBTQII+ isn’t bright
[ 4 minutes to read] At first, the global picture appears optimistic. Pride events expand. Courts issue rulings. Governments speak the…
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The Third World doesn’t respect Human Rights and it is rising
[ 3 minutes to read] The developing world is rising — in population, power, and ambition. Yet it is not rising…
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Can Trump become a dictator?
[ 5 minutes to read] The United States still looks like the world’s strongest democracy. It has elections, courts, and a…
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America’s 400 days to save democracy
[ 3 minutes to read] The United States was once regarded as the stronghold of democracy. Its Constitution inspired revolutions, and…
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The case of developing countries: Religion as a detriment
[ 6 minutes to read] Religion is often described as a source of morality, community, and identity. Yet in much of…
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Radical Legacy of Christopher Hitchens: Marxism & New Atheism
[ 7 minutes to read] The “New Atheism” movement experienced a surge in prominence following the September 11th attacks. However, its…
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Why we don’t want Russian values
[ 4 minutes to read] Russia constantly claims to offer an alternative to the Western world. It speaks of “traditional values”—order,…
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History of Chinese disregard of human rights
[ 12 minutes to read] China’s ascent to global power dazzled the world. With record-breaking infrastructure, a booming tech sector, and…
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Let’s do it the Chinese way. It cannot be more dangerous
[ 5 minutes to read] China is rising—not just in GDP and infrastructure, but in influence. While America dithers and Europe…
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Religious fundamentalism and political power
[ 4 minutes to read] Religious fundamentalism has always influenced political power. It shapes laws, social norms, and governance. Leaders use…
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Human Rights in a World of Shifting Sands: A Freethinker’s Perspective
[ 3 minutes to read] Every year, International Human Rights Day serves as a stark reminder: The fight for universal rights…
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Nicaragua’s UN Exit: A Blow to Human Rights or a Sovereign Stand?
[ 3 minutes to read] A Nation’s Retreat from Accountability What happens when a government accused of repression decides to walk…
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Can Europe End Russia’s War in Ukraine? A Freethinker’s Perspective
[ 3 minutes to read] History has shown us that wars rarely end with absolute victories—more often, they conclude through fragile…
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Hungary’s Democracy Is Dying in Plain Sight
[ 2 minutes to read] In an era where authoritarianism is supposed to be a relic of the past, Hungary is…
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The West’s Silence on Myanmar’s Genocide: A Betrayal of Our Own Values
[ 2 minutes to read] The world loves to talk about democracy—until it’s inconvenient. Myanmar’s military junta, in a reign of…
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Over one million Uyghurs were arbitrarily detained in China from 2017 to 2023
[ 2 minutes to read] The systematic persecution of Uyghurs in China presents a troubling paradox for freethinkers and secularists. On…
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El Salvador’s Descent into Authoritarianism
[ 2 minutes to read] El Salvador, once heralded as a nation on the path to democratic reform, now stands at…
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Brazil’s Human Rights Crisis
[ 3 minutes to read] Brazil, a nation celebrated for its vibrant culture and natural beauty, is currently grappling with deep-seated…
