Making Sense with Sam Harris #376 — How Democracies Fail
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Jul 19, 2024 
In this discussion, columnist Anne Applebaum, an expert on autocracy and Eastern Europe, dives into the current fragility of democracies. They explore how modern autocracies systematically undermine democratic institutions and the dangerous cooperation among dictators. The conversation touches on Trump’s charismatic appeal, the alarming decline of American democracy, and the moral dilemmas faced by the West in supporting Ukraine amidst rising populism. Applebaum also critiques the misplaced optimism of the 90s, revealing the persistent threats that still loom over democratic ideals.
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Modern Autocracies
- Modern autocracies prioritize money, using Western institutions to protect their wealth.
- They actively undermine liberal democracies, seeing their ideals as a threat to their power.
The Power of Ideas
- Autocracies recognize the contagious power of democratic ideals like individual rights and transparency.
- They see these ideas as inspiring dissent and thus undermining their power.
Why Russia Invaded Ukraine
- Putin invaded Ukraine partly because its burgeoning democracy posed an ideological threat to his regime.
- He feared a successful Ukrainian democracy would inspire similar movements in Russia.
