The Light That Failed

In this book, Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmes argue that the supposed end of communism marked the beginning of an age of autocracy.

They contend that the drive for democracy in Eastern Europe after 1989 led to a bitter repudiation of liberalism due to the painful process of 'copycat Westernization.

' This mimicry of Western institutions and values, especially after the Soviet era, resulted in a deep-seated resentment and a political backlash against liberalism.

The authors also examine how this phenomenon is linked to the rise of populist and nationalist movements in both Eastern Europe and the United States, including the Trump presidency.

They discuss the roles of Russia, China, and other global actors in this context and argue that Western defenders of liberal democracy need to offer a more realistic vision of world order.