Creepiest regime

[Maladict]

Basically, which current regimes creep you out the most? Pick up to three.

[derspiess]

Done!

[Savonarola]

China, China and China

[Richard Hakluyt]

There is a plethora of choices there ..... this is going to be difficult 

[Valmy]

China is kind of terrifying because they are showing how modern technology can be used to make authoritarian states of the future better at managing every aspect of your life.

[HVC]

how am I the first person to vote for Russia?

[crazy canuck]

The easy three to choose were Russia, North Korea and China.

The next level would be Turkey, Hungary, Venezuela and Poland - but I didn't see Poland.

[Maladict]

The easy three to choose were Russia, North Korea and China.

The next level would be Turkey, Hungary, Venezuela and Poland - but I didn't see Poland.

Yeah, Poland should have been there, and Syria instead of Iraq.

[celedhring]

The easy three to choose were Russia, North Korea and China.

The next level would be Turkey, Hungary, Venezuela and Poland - but I didn't see Poland.

Saudi Arabia out-creeps Russia by a fair bit.

[Maladict]

Saudi Arabia out-creeps Russia by a fair bit.

Definitely, that was my first pick.

[crazy canuck]

The easy three to choose were Russia, North Korea and China.

The next level would be Turkey, Hungary, Venezuela and Poland - but I didn't see Poland.

Saudi Arabia out-creeps Russia by a fair bit.

Interesting.  Russia was by far my first choice .  They invaded the Ukraine, they are actively attempting (and succeeding) to undermine democratic institutions and elections around the world.  And they are a kleptocracy with nuclear weapons.   What makes Saudi Arabia more significant for you?

[Malthus]

I see Canada got a vote! 

No wonder, what with our PM admitting he's currently committing genocide and all ... 

[HVC]

I see Canada got a vote! 

No wonder, what with our PM admitting he's currently committing genocide and all ... 

No one suspects the quiet guy in the corner

[Oexmelin]

I read creepy and reprehensible as two different things: some reprehensible regimes have been familiar for a while now: North Korea is certainly creepy but it's also a kind of familiar Stalinist regime. China is more creepy precisely because its imperial project, and its ambitions of control brings a whole new level to the challenges to democracy, and democratic principles. I also find China creepy because its soft diplomacy has done wonders for many years. While Saudi Arabia is familiar, I find it creepy because it epitomizes the corruption of aristocracy / ploutocracy. And while Hungary is not, by far, on the same level as both of these regimes, I find it creepy because it's offering itself as a roadmap to the future of liberalism.

[viper37]

Basically, which current regimes creep you out the most? Pick up to three.

Venezuela, USA, Hungary.

Venezuela, because even in its dysfunctional state, it is fucking up politics in South America and inspiring other regimes: they achieved power, so can we!  It's been giving wings to all kinds of communist offshoots everywhere.

USA, because the Donald Trump regime is not centered around Donald Trump, it is a newish current in US politics that many people really like.  For all their aversion to facism, they do love a dysfunctional state run by an ego-maniac.

Hungary, because such a racist regime on the fringe of Europe is akin to Venezuela in South America: it inspires others of its kinds in a "so can we too" way.