The implication for me is that they are aligned with the US system. That is why, for example, when Orban challenges EU sanctions against Russia, there are ponderous articles published about "authoritarianism" in Hungary, but when, say, Romania cancels an entire Presidential election to prevent a pro-Russian candidate from winning, then there are no such ponderous articles.
You have to be aware that Western funded NGOs are important geostrategic players in overthrowing rival regimes and installing pro-US regimes. I am not seeing many articles about human rights in Saudi Arabia, for example, as that is an American ally. They can even dismember a WAPO journalist and the NGOs wont wring their hands.
So what the article means by "Global Freedom" (I actually cringe at the term) is really "pro-Western regime". That is why Putin and Xi are on the cover graphic of the article. In other words, this is just an expression of US soft power. Once you learn to see this stuff, you see it everywhere.
The implication for me is that they are aligned with the US system. That is why, for example, when Orban challenges EU sanctions against Russia, there are ponderous articles published about "authoritarianism" in Hungary, but when, say, Romania cancels an entire Presidential election to prevent a pro-Russian candidate from winning, then there are no such ponderous articles.
You have to be aware that Western funded NGOs are important geostrategic players in overthrowing rival regimes and installing pro-US regimes. I am not seeing many articles about human rights in Saudi Arabia, for example, as that is an American ally. They can even dismember a WAPO journalist and the NGOs wont wring their hands.
So what the article means by "Global Freedom" (I actually cringe at the term) is really "pro-Western regime". That is why Putin and Xi are on the cover graphic of the article. In other words, this is just an expression of US soft power. Once you learn to see this stuff, you see it everywhere.