Why are autocrats popular? – Assault on democracy

From India to Russia, from Poland to countless other countries, there is a concerning trend of authoritarianism threatening civil society. Governments are cracking down on activists and NGOs that dare to demand democracy and defend human rights. But what are the root causes of this trend? What happens when the people’s voice is silenced, and democracy is under threat?

Filmmaker Sebastian Weis investigates these questions in “In the Crosshairs of the State,” a gripping documentary exploring the global assault on civil society. Weis takes audiences through the situations in India, Russia, and Poland, with each country representing a distinct issue contributing to this dire situation. From environmental destruction to human rights abuses and women’s rights under attack, we witness firsthand how these governments clamp down on independent and critical players and criminalize entire groups. Join Weis on a journey to understand the complex forces behind this global phenomenon and what can be done to counter it.