America's Pillars of Democracy, the Internet and Cuba's Protests, and More

Plus a look at the challenges facing Vietnam's women entrepreneurs and must-watch videos from our experts.

View in browser July 24, 2021 What role did the internet play in fomenting Cuban protests?   When protests erupted in Cuba last week, some were quick to argue that improving internet access made a protest movement possible in a country where freedom of speech and assembly are significantly restricted. However, a closer look at the data reveals a more complicated picture that should make policymakers cautious of this narrative, writes Valerie Wirtschafter.   Read more The shaky pillars of American democracy   American democracy rests on two main pillars: "sanctity of the law" and the "freedom of the press." Only by restoring these pillars can the United States prove to itself and the world that it is still capable of creating and sustaining political miracles, argues Marvin Kalb.   Read more What do female entrepreneurs in Vietnam want and need?   Vietnam has shown steady signs of progress in increasing its number of women entrepreneurs, but they are facing limited access to finance, societal discrimination, and a multitude of additional challenges. Tran Thi Ngoc Tran highlights what's needed to support the country's female entrepreneurs and discusses what she hopes to achieve with her work as an Echidna Global Scholar at Brookings.   Read more Must-watch videos   The Quad explained. The Quadrilateral or the "Quad" is a coalition containing four democracies in the Indo-Pacific: the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. What does the Quad do? Can this group live up to the hype surrounding it? Tanvi Madan shares five things you should know.   How should America resolve security crises? While the planet in recent decades has never been a more peaceful or prosperous place to live, many trendlines are moving in the wrong direction. To address key risks, Michael O'Hanlon outlines a strategy from his new book "The Art of War in an Age of Peace."   For more videos, including live events with Brookings experts, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Help support Brookings with a donation   Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution's response, read our full guidance here. The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe Manage your newsletter preferences | Receive the Brookings Brief less often