Latest Category: Blog Series

Election Watch Tunisia: Tunisia’s Democratic Dismantling

A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 4: Soviet sports propaganda

The Olympic Games Olympic Boycotts “The Match of the Century” Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging. In the modern era, authoritarian regimes have tapped into the popularity of sports within […]

A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 3: Post-WWII Soft Power

Franco’s Football: Spanish nationalism and diplomacy Brazil: Pelé and the generals Mobutu’s Zaire: Football, Pelé and ‘the Rumble in the Jungle’ General Videla and the 1978 World Cup Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast […]

Election Watch: Bangladesh Took One More Step Toward Authoritarianism

A History of Sports & Dictators, Part 2: The Rise of Fascism

Mussolini: The “Sporting Dictator” and the 1934 FIFA World Cup The 1936 Nazi Olympics Imperial Japan’s 1940 Olympics That Never Were Long before the inception of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have been used to distract the masses, test foreign policies, thaw diplomatic tensions, and broadcast political and social messaging. In the modern […]

Freedom In Focus | HRF Summer Newsletter

To our community, In this edition of Freedom in Focus, we are excited to share some of our major achievements this summer and progress in the fight for freedom and democracy worldwide. These include our efforts to free prisoners of conscience, investments in innovators and educators supporting financial freedom, and bringing human rights into the global […]

Election Watch: Modi Secures Third Term Amid Electoral Irregularities

Freedom In Focus | HRF Spring Newsletter

To our community, The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) started 2024 off strong with meaningful advancements in the struggle for freedom worldwide. In this edition of Freedom in Focus, you’ll learn more about our accomplishments so far this year, including our involvement at global conferences, new avenues to popularize pressing human rights issues, and legal efforts […]

Election Watch: Pakistan’s Contentious Elections

A History of Sports and Dictators, Part 1: From Ramses II to Rome’s Bread & Circuses