Commentary & Analysis

Reflecting on 2024, we are filled with both pride and a sense of urgency. As we approach STROIKA’s third anniversary, the importance of our mission — to build, resource, and connect anti-authoritarian movements globally — has never been more critical.

The US election outcome made clear that the lessons learned by our global partners are increasingly urgent and relevant for the United States.

In the final stretch of this tumultuous year, our message of hope remains as powerful as ever: it is possible to resist and preserve democratic space, even in the most seemingly impossible circumstances.

Explore our full end-of-year update, or click below for the text-only version.

Over the past year, STROIKA has worked closely with U.S. human rights and civil liberties groups, climate justice activists, and philanthropic donors to prepare for potential impacts of a Trump re-election.

What we’ve found is consistent: organizations, regardless of size, are woefully underprepared for potential targeting. This readiness gap is critical — and one we must address now.

On the Kettering Foundation's The Stakes series, Yelena Litvinov spoke with Harvard Law professor Alan Jenkins, creator of the 1/6 graphic novel series, about the role of arts, culture, creativity, and freedom of speech in defending democracy.

‍Watch the conversation, moderated by Brad Rourke.

Tatyana Margolin took the stage at the Vital Voices Anti-Authoritarian Summit in Warsaw, with women leaders from around the world.

She led a series of interactive workshops that culminated in the release of The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook: Recommendations from Women Leaders for Women Leaders in the Fight for Democracy.

STROIKA traveled to the SKOLL World Forum in Oxford, presenting a session on Empowering Civic Resilience: Strategies for Action in Repression.

We led a global audience in working through real-life case studies of how activists can persevere and advance their work in even the most difficult conditions, showcasing practical strategies for finding hope and solidarity in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds.

Russia’s latest anti-LGBTQ+ ruling is a stark warning to all those witnessing attacks on marginalized groups in their own countries. The escalation from homophobic and transphobic rhetoric to the use of an extremism law illustrates that anti-LGBTQ+ policies are simply a political tool. Targeting the queer community, or any marginalized group, is an easy move from the authoritarian playbook to suppress dissent and consolidate power.

One can reliably gauge the latest geopolitical upheaval by who is sleeping on the red pullout couch in my New York apartment.

I barely had a chance to grieve the gut-wrenching news of Hamas’ pogrom on October 7, 2023, before the familiar drums of war were beating. On October 11, the Israeli Defense Force tweeted, “You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism.” It echoed George W. Bush’s nearly identical phrasing just weeks after the 9/11 attacks.

I felt transported back to September 11, 2001, in New York City: first was the shock and pain of loss, and then the immediate anger and disbelief as collective grief was used to justify not only wars abroad but also domestic crackdowns on civil liberties in the US. This ambiguous “war on terror” included increased surveillance codified into law by the Patriot Act; the overpolicing of Muslim communities; and the horrific kidnapping, detention, and torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other secret facilities globally. Over 20 years later, many of these wrongs have not been righted and have become an accepted part of the American political landscape.

The 2023 Keseb Global Democracy Champions Summit (October 24-26, 2023) focused on "Preparing for the 2024 Mega Election Year." In 2024, half of the world’s populations will participate in elections. Watch Tatyana Margolin's analysis in the Summit highlights reel.

The Kettering Foundation's first Emerging Issues Conference took place on September 19, 2023, exploring "the dimensions of authoritarian moves taking place both globally and in the United States, responses and the tensions between potential solutions, and potential ways forward." Watch Yelena Litvinov in the "Countering Authoritarianism x Fostering Citizen Engagement" panel.