Unlike past forms, modern autocracy offers stability, encourages scepticism about political alternatives and causes withdrawal from civic engagement

South Africa stands out as a country that strongly defends democracy

Dropping democracy for aspirant autocrats who will put everything in order with a big stick might not be all it’s cracked up to be

Leaders typically spread power among their ‘rival allies’ to keep it and co-opt enough of those elites in exchange for political support.

A respected and robust United States — with all of our flaws, mistakes and missteps — can be good for the defence of democracy, not least in Africa