Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia.

Human rights benchmarks must factor into any bilateral or multilateral engagement with repressive dictatorships, from KSA to the IRI.

There is a narrative that discussion of human rights signifies “regime change” and is a no-go for diplomats. https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi/status/1331309927168679936

The thinking is that such talk will tank any negotiation.

That framing has long been parroted by those w/ business interests & other agendas. If you repeat something enough, people assume it’s true.

It’s not based in any truth when you are the party with more bargaining power.

All states need other states, for trade, security, etc. If you’re not isolated from the global financial system you want to preserve that. If you’re already isolated, you want back in. And if you don’t want back in, then your ppl will decide for you, just like they did in Sudan.

Any repressive regime that knows what’s good for them in 2020 will agree to human rights reforms. As we saw with the mass movements of 2019 and 2020, public mobilization is on the rise. States can’t repress that for long without concessions.

If they double down they become Assad, marginalized w/ an uncertain future. Or they become Omar al-Bashir, swept aside completely. Repressive leaders take note, your outdated model won’t survive. Release political prisoners, stop executions, stop persecuting marginalized groups.