Valery Perry
@valeryperry.bsky.social
Thinking about accountable governance, the flavors of state capture being innovated & how people can learn the good from each other & not just the bad… an unexpected life journey from Buffalo to Sarajevo....my dog keeps me human...
If you are in Berlin this is a great opportunity to see a taste of what the Ex-Yu Rock Centar has in terms of amazingly curated exhibits!! If you are not in Berlin, this is a great reason to go :-) And as it notes - plans for the new phase of the EYRC are in process....
You haven’t heard much from us lately...we’ve been busy preparing an exhibition in Berlin on the Sarajevo Rock Scene (1980-92). From 16-30 October, more than 200 original items will be on display at the Prima Center Berlin gallery. If in Berlin check it out, & please spread the word!
October 1, 2026 at 3:53 PM
If you are in Berlin this is a great opportunity to see a taste of what the Ex-Yu Rock Centar has in terms of amazingly curated exhibits!! If you are not in Berlin, this is a great reason to go :-) And as it notes - plans for the new phase of the EYRC are in process....
I spoke with WXXI’s Evan Dawson about Route 66, including how roadtrips can connect people. We also talked about politics, how we would not want AI to plan/drive the route for us, & why you should not accept gifts from oligarchs along the way. Listen at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Valery Perry went on the road in search of democracy
Podcast Episode · Connections Podcast · September 28 · 51m
podcasts.apple.com
September 28, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I spoke with WXXI’s Evan Dawson about Route 66, including how roadtrips can connect people. We also talked about politics, how we would not want AI to plan/drive the route for us, & why you should not accept gifts from oligarchs along the way. Listen at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Great chat with Eric Manton about “Adversarial Analysis,” a model of anti-democratic dynamics in the US. He looks at 4 factions: Corporatist Oligarchs, Christian Nationalists/Heritage, MAGA, & Dystopian Tech Bros - with Pres. Trump as the bonding agent. Listen at
open.spotify.com/episode/2R9U...
open.spotify.com/episode/2R9U...
DPC Talks with Eric Manton (U.S.)
DPC Voice - A Podcast from the Democratization Policy Council · Episode
open.spotify.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Great chat with Eric Manton about “Adversarial Analysis,” a model of anti-democratic dynamics in the US. He looks at 4 factions: Corporatist Oligarchs, Christian Nationalists/Heritage, MAGA, & Dystopian Tech Bros - with Pres. Trump as the bonding agent. Listen at
open.spotify.com/episode/2R9U...
open.spotify.com/episode/2R9U...
Great chat with Ivan Stefanovski in Skopje on the diminished credibility of the EU enlargement process among people in N Macedonia, the impact of US disengagement, & the bigger picture changing geopolitics that affect the country, the region & beyond. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/77H0...
DPC talks with Ivan Stefanovski (Skopje, North Macedonia)
DPC Voice - A Podcast from the Democratization Policy Council · Episode
open.spotify.com
September 11, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Great chat with Ivan Stefanovski in Skopje on the diminished credibility of the EU enlargement process among people in N Macedonia, the impact of US disengagement, & the bigger picture changing geopolitics that affect the country, the region & beyond. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/77H0...
I spoke with Damir Kapidzic of the University of Sarajevo about citizens' assemblies - a form of democratic innovation. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
DPC talks with Damir Kapidzic (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Podcast Episode · DPC Voice - A Podcast from the Democratization Policy Council · September 9 · 46m
podcasts.apple.com
September 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I spoke with Damir Kapidzic of the University of Sarajevo about citizens' assemblies - a form of democratic innovation. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
I spoke with Nidzara Ahmetasevic about the glorification of war criminal Ratko Mladic, & the spectacle of his funeral in Belgrade. We discused these dynamics in the region & beyond, & how language, memory & denial can feed polarization, hate & fascism. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
DPC talks with Nidzara Ahmetasevic (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Podcast Episode · DPC Voice - A Podcast from the Democratization Policy Council · September 8 · 53m
podcasts.apple.com
September 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
I spoke with Nidzara Ahmetasevic about the glorification of war criminal Ratko Mladic, & the spectacle of his funeral in Belgrade. We discused these dynamics in the region & beyond, & how language, memory & denial can feed polarization, hate & fascism. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
I have long wanted to find corporate or other support to develop a line of Lego sets based on Bosnia and Herzegovina's amazing and underappreciated medieval fortresses..... This could be a first start. Please support! ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
September 6, 2026 at 6:54 AM
I have long wanted to find corporate or other support to develop a line of Lego sets based on Bosnia and Herzegovina's amazing and underappreciated medieval fortresses..... This could be a first start. Please support! ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
The first 8 minutes of this covers reactions to Mladic’s death, & the ongoing & increasing trend of glorifying war criminals. I argue that a root cause of this is fundamentally unreformed education systems.
September 4, 2026 at 6:37 AM
The first 8 minutes of this covers reactions to Mladic’s death, & the ongoing & increasing trend of glorifying war criminals. I argue that a root cause of this is fundamentally unreformed education systems.
Glad to see this important history is getting out into the public space... and that it shows people looked for methods of accountable self-government even before Athens introduced its version of democracy-
I wrote this review of @professorjkeane.bsky.social's "The Shortest History of Democracy: 4,000 Years of Self-Government - a Retelling for Our Times," which jumped off a book display at IAD earlier this month. I highly recommend it!
www.democratizationpolicy.org/democracys-l...
www.democratizationpolicy.org/democracys-l...
Democracy's Long March - Democratization Policy Council
Kurt Bassuener Book Review: John Keane, The Shortest History of Democracy: 4,000 Years of Self-Government – […]
www.democratizationpolicy.org
August 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Glad to see this important history is getting out into the public space... and that it shows people looked for methods of accountable self-government even before Athens introduced its version of democracy-
I spoke with Gresa Hasa about the Flamingo Revolution in Albania. While the use of violence against protestors served as a trigger, this bottom-up movement needs to be viewed in the context of 3 decades of frustration with the lack of transparency, pervasive corruption & weak rule of law.
August 23, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I spoke with Gresa Hasa about the Flamingo Revolution in Albania. While the use of violence against protestors served as a trigger, this bottom-up movement needs to be viewed in the context of 3 decades of frustration with the lack of transparency, pervasive corruption & weak rule of law.
I reviewed, Shifting paradigms. Three decades after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement (H. Preljević, M. Mulalić, E. Hadžikadunić, M. Krupalija (eds.). Interesting contributions, but I wish some of the writers had sketched out positive visions for BiH beyond vague notions of an EU future.
August 20, 2026 at 8:17 AM
I reviewed, Shifting paradigms. Three decades after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement (H. Preljević, M. Mulalić, E. Hadžikadunić, M. Krupalija (eds.). Interesting contributions, but I wish some of the writers had sketched out positive visions for BiH beyond vague notions of an EU future.
I reviewed Justin Gest’s book, Democratic Drain: Global Migration and the Struggle for Democracy. The book looks at people making the choice to emigrate based not on economic motivations, but to live in a society that is grounded in democratic values: balkaninsight.com/2026/08/11/w...
August 12, 2026 at 10:01 AM
I reviewed Justin Gest’s book, Democratic Drain: Global Migration and the Struggle for Democracy. The book looks at people making the choice to emigrate based not on economic motivations, but to live in a society that is grounded in democratic values: balkaninsight.com/2026/08/11/w...
I spoke with Mike Henning who spent 31 years with USAID until it was dismantled in 2025. We talked about lessons learned from work supporting democratic resilience globally, & what it means that the US has given up on its soft power influence that enabled comprehensive security for decades.
August 4, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I spoke with Mike Henning who spent 31 years with USAID until it was dismantled in 2025. We talked about lessons learned from work supporting democratic resilience globally, & what it means that the US has given up on its soft power influence that enabled comprehensive security for decades.
I spoke with Louis Monroy Santander about the recent elections in Colombia which saw a narrow win by a far-right populist candidate. The left/right split was notable & reflects a polarization that needs to be understood in the context of seven decades of violence in that country.
June 24, 2026 at 9:17 AM
I spoke with Louis Monroy Santander about the recent elections in Colombia which saw a narrow win by a far-right populist candidate. The left/right split was notable & reflects a polarization that needs to be understood in the context of seven decades of violence in that country.
I spoke with Randall Puljek-Shank for DPC Voice about what drew him to work in conflict transformation, what brought him to Bosnia, and what it’s like doing activism now back in the United States at a time of substantial democratic challenge. Listen at:
open.spotify.com/episode/3G3U...
open.spotify.com/episode/3G3U...
DPC talks with Randall Puljek-Shank (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
DPC Voice · Episode
open.spotify.com
June 19, 2026 at 7:14 AM
I spoke with Randall Puljek-Shank for DPC Voice about what drew him to work in conflict transformation, what brought him to Bosnia, and what it’s like doing activism now back in the United States at a time of substantial democratic challenge. Listen at:
open.spotify.com/episode/3G3U...
open.spotify.com/episode/3G3U...
So many people who talk about geopolitics see mostly airports and hotel conferences rooms when "in the field." This trip was illuminating on many fronts-
10 days, 2800km of driving, 4 countries(🇧🇦 🇷🇸🇷🇴🇲🇩), 6 cities, numerous meetings along the way, lots of learning curve. Now first morning in sweet home #Sarajevo. @dpcglobal.bsky.social, @geopower-eu.bsky.social, @valeryperry.bsky.social, @omemisevic.bsky.social, Pavle Fukarek, @horizoneu.bsky.social
June 7, 2026 at 9:15 AM
So many people who talk about geopolitics see mostly airports and hotel conferences rooms when "in the field." This trip was illuminating on many fronts-
The citizens of BiH - citizens everywhere - should know what their representatives are being pressured to sign when it comes to extraction deals (or ANY deals); the lack of transparency on the SIC is just one of the issues Pippa and I discussed--
My colleague Valery Perry speaks to @pippagallop.bsky.social of @ceebankwatch.bsky.social on the Southern Interconnection (SIC) pipeline, which has been pushed forward here in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) with considerable velocity by the US Govt. 👇
DPC's Valery Perry speaks with @pippagallop.bsky.social of @ceebankwatch.bsky.social in the latest DPC Voice, our new podcast, regarding the Southern Interconnection pipeline project, which has been aggressively pushed forward by the US.
open.spotify.com/episode/6uug...
open.spotify.com/episode/6uug...
May 22, 2026 at 7:52 AM
The citizens of BiH - citizens everywhere - should know what their representatives are being pressured to sign when it comes to extraction deals (or ANY deals); the lack of transparency on the SIC is just one of the issues Pippa and I discussed--
Growing up in Buffalo with Canada just over the Niagara River, the deterioration of the relationship between the US and Canada over the past year is painfully acute. I was glad to see the Rochester daily, the Democrat & Chronicle, publish a piece I submitted shortly after the recent tumult in Davos:
February 2, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Growing up in Buffalo with Canada just over the Niagara River, the deterioration of the relationship between the US and Canada over the past year is painfully acute. I was glad to see the Rochester daily, the Democrat & Chronicle, publish a piece I submitted shortly after the recent tumult in Davos:
I"m glad Kurt is doing the math - this is the craven zero-sum politics mentality that will make everyone worse off. Looking at a complex world as if it was the game board in Risk is never a good idea.....
Remember "expand our territory" at inauguration?
I remember in the 1st term I added square miles of US w Greenland.
georank.org/size/united-...
But the sum would still be smaller than Russia: 4,630,430 sq miles vs 6,601,665. 1/
I remember in the 1st term I added square miles of US w Greenland.
georank.org/size/united-...
But the sum would still be smaller than Russia: 4,630,430 sq miles vs 6,601,665. 1/
US' Total Size & Land Area: rank & territory types [2026]
The United States' land area is 3,531,839 sq mi, and the total size is 3,794,100 sq mi, with inland water included. The United States is ranked 3 by total surface area.
georank.org
January 10, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I"m glad Kurt is doing the math - this is the craven zero-sum politics mentality that will make everyone worse off. Looking at a complex world as if it was the game board in Risk is never a good idea.....
Were the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela the first chance to see what operationalization of the new US National Security Strategy looks like? I talked about this on “Connections with Evan Dawson” @WXXINews
www.wxxinews.org/show/connect...
www.wxxinews.org/show/connect...
What does American action in Venezuela mean for democracy abroad?
In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 1/8/26, a democratization policy expert discusses potential repercussions of the Trump administration's attempts to strong-arm other nations.
www.wxxinews.org
January 9, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Were the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela the first chance to see what operationalization of the new US National Security Strategy looks like? I talked about this on “Connections with Evan Dawson” @WXXINews
www.wxxinews.org/show/connect...
www.wxxinews.org/show/connect...
Useful reminder that the application of ink to paper is only the first step of a process that requires dedication and support to people who want peace, and the marginalization of spoilers who profit from conflict and chaos at the expense of regular people.
December 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Useful reminder that the application of ink to paper is only the first step of a process that requires dedication and support to people who want peace, and the marginalization of spoilers who profit from conflict and chaos at the expense of regular people.
Route 66 turns 100 in 2026! If you're thinking about hitting the Mother Road, check out some tips and ideas in this highlights video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=agk9...
The Mother Road turns 100! Some Top Route 66 sites and experiences
YouTube video by Valery Perry
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Route 66 turns 100 in 2026! If you're thinking about hitting the Mother Road, check out some tips and ideas in this highlights video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=agk9...
There is little doubt that the new US National Security Strategy at least provides clarity; the question is whether democratic states who have lost an ally will finally abandon their complacency and resignation
@valeryperry.bsky.social and myself on the need for liberal democracies to stand up to a bullying US, a propos of the new National Security Strategy
On DPC's website:
www.democratizationpolicy.org/europe-must-...
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/europe...
On DPC's website:
www.democratizationpolicy.org/europe-must-...
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/europe...
December 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
There is little doubt that the new US National Security Strategy at least provides clarity; the question is whether democratic states who have lost an ally will finally abandon their complacency and resignation
Good review of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.... As the US trashes allies and embraces $$ this caught my eye: "Although eight countries abstained from the UDHR—South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and six countries from the Soviet bloc—no country voted against it, making the vote unanimous."
December 11, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Good review of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.... As the US trashes allies and embraces $$ this caught my eye: "Although eight countries abstained from the UDHR—South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and six countries from the Soviet bloc—no country voted against it, making the vote unanimous."
Excellent analysis and a reminder that while resistance against democratic threats does not have a 100% chance of success, continued complacency will have a 100% chance of failure
Been thinking a lot about the European response to the new US National Security Strategy (followed up by Trump's interview).
Europeans panicked after J.D.'s Munich speech and Zelenskyy's humiliation in the White House but then got complacent when US policy seemed to resume its usual course.
Europeans panicked after J.D.'s Munich speech and Zelenskyy's humiliation in the White House but then got complacent when US policy seemed to resume its usual course.
December 11, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Excellent analysis and a reminder that while resistance against democratic threats does not have a 100% chance of success, continued complacency will have a 100% chance of failure