ISMA
@ismapolicy.bsky.social
Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, a think tank committed to opposing the worldwide slide into illiberalism. Publisher of @theunpopulist.net. https://www.ismaglobal.org
Shikha Dalmia spent 30 years in policy journalism, libertarian and skeptical of both sides. Then Trump arrived, and she recognized "a much more fundamental threat to liberal institutions and liberal values than we had ever encountered." Worse, a movement of intellectuals emerged to give.
Shikha Dalmia opens LibCon 2026 by redrawing the map: not left vs. right, but liberal vs. illiberal — and a global liberal movement that excludes the illiberal extremes on both sides. #LibCon2026
Adam Serwer of The Atlantic on why party commitments follow the vote: with Black voters disenfranchised, "there was no constituency for Black rights," and the GOP began moving away from defending multiracial democracy. #LibCon2026
Adam Serwer at LibCon 2026: the elites who benefited most from liberal democratic capitalism "have all conspired to help destroy it in pursuit of short-term profits." His takeaway—protect the capitalists from themselves. #LibCon2026
Francis Fukuyama at LibCon 2026 on the closed loop of oligarchic power: business empire buys media empire, media buys political power, and power protects the business. "Once you had political power, you could use that to protect your business empire." #LibCon2026
Félix Maradiaga, imprisoned in Nicaragua, learned firsthand that authoritarian regimes coordinate: "It's not theoretical, they do have a system." Democracies, he argues, remain episodic by comparison. #LibCon2026
Bob Rae at LibCon 2026 on the day US diplomacy flipped: Washington asked Canada and others to withdraw a Ukraine resolution so it could move a weaker one that "didn't even mention the word aggression." The world turned upside down. #LibCon2026
Anne Applebaum on why democratic opposition so often falters: "Every time you have an autocratic regime, you have almost automatically the shattering of the opposition." She traces the pattern from Poland to the US. From "Building a Global Liberal Coalition." #LibCon2026
At LibCon 2026, Bob Rae (University of Toronto) makes the case that the liberal story isn't complicated: human dignity, foundational freedoms, and the rule of law. "Those are not complicated ideas." #LibCon2026
Anne Applebaum at LibCon 2026 on how authoritarian drift breeds graft: strip the rule of law, independent courts, and good information, and "you almost immediately get corruption." Gut the civil service, and government gets worse. #LibCon2026
once again tapping the sign: please support independent, worker run, reader funded newsrooms how and where you are able to.
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 3mo agoFrancis Fukuyama at LibCon 2026 on the closed loop of oligarchic power: business empire buys media empire, media buys political power, and power protects the business. "Once you had political power, you could use that to protect your business empire." #LibCon2026
good encapsulation of how concentrations of wealth are inimical to free markets
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 3mo agoFrancis Fukuyama at LibCon 2026 on the closed loop of oligarchic power: business empire buys media empire, media buys political power, and power protects the business. "Once you had political power, you could use that to protect your business empire." #LibCon2026
Could not agree more on the need for a new alignment. The illiberal coalition has already figured this out. Great to be at #LibCon doing this work.
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 3mo agoShikha Dalmia opens LibCon 2026 by redrawing the map: not left vs. right, but liberal vs. illiberal — and a global liberal movement that excludes the illiberal extremes on both sides. #LibCon2026
This is correct in my experience. This also gives me a glimmer of hope for the future. I have seen so much destruction at my university. I know that rebuilding will extend far beyond my retirement. But it will happen.
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 3mo agoShikha Dalmia opens LibCon 2026 with a clear-eyed charge: "Authoritarians can destroy institutions, they can't build them." The work of rebuilding falls to liberals—and the window to see clearly is now. #LibCon2026
#LibCon2026 kicks off today at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and advocates for two days of conversation on the future of liberal democracy. If you're in town for the conference, come find the Liberalism.org booth. We'd genuinely love to meet you.
Shikha Dalmia opens LibCon 2026 with a clear-eyed charge: "Authoritarians can destroy institutions, they can't build them." The work of rebuilding falls to liberals—and the window to see clearly is now. #LibCon2026
We’re proud to support #LibCon2026 in Washington, DC.
Kettering Foundation@kettering.org · 3mo agoKF Fellows Erica Frantz, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social, @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social, and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social, will join scholars, journalists, and policymakers and explore how democratic institutions can earn trust, adapt, and better serve the public.
How does this Iowan prepare for @shikhadalmia.bsky.social and friends’ #LibCon2026 and the hot and steamy DC weather? ✅ @raygunsite.com #LocalMenace shirt ✅ Iowa Golf Association towel to mop up sweatiness. #winning
The UnPopulist@theunpopulist.net · 4mo agoWhat is freedom—and what does it take to rebuild it? At #LibCon2026, @ezraklein.bsky.social and @dsallentess.bsky.social will hold a fireside chat on the obstacles facing liberal democracy's revival.
The future will look different. But the values that underpin liberal democracy remain essential. Credit to @bernybelvedere.bsky.social @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for this important conference on how we make sure they adapt and endure. We @protectdemocracy.org are proud sponsors.
Berny Belvedere@bernybelvedere.bsky.social · 4mo agoThis week 😮 conference.ismaglobal.org @ismapolicy.bsky.social @theunpopulist.net
📢 Gen Z has questions. She has the data. @racheljanfaza.bsky.social — founder of The Up and Up — joins LibCon2026, July 16–17 at The Watergate in DC.
He started a politics newsletter at 9. His one subscriber? His mom 😂 Now Congress reads Gabe Fleisher every morning. He joins LibCon2026, July 16–17 at The Watergate in DC.
📢 NEW SPEAKER: Kristie De Peña — one of DC's leading immigration-policy minds — joins LibCon2026, July 16–17 at The Watergate in DC.
OK, who's going? Try to say hi during one of the micro breaks.
Liberal democracy's future depends on winning younger voters. What are their core concerns? Can we keep them from drifting toward illiberal alternatives? The great @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social will moderate a panel featuring @racheljanfaza.bsky.social, @destiny.gg, and Gabe Fleisher at LibCon2026.
