Autocratic systems are on the rise, while democracy is losing ground - most recently in Russia and China. Kenneth Roth describes how the mechanisms of “managed democracy” and showmanship are used to impose totalitarian systems. At the same time, he points to the wave of popular uprisings and his belief in the power of upheaval from within crisis zones. In this particular context, the human rights activist emphasizes the importance of art as a witness, a means of communication and hope.
“Artistic creativity is the opposite of the unthinking conformity that the autocrats need to survive politically and try to instill in us.”
— Kenneth Roth
