The Good Fight
Anne Applebaum on Autocracy, Inc.
Aug 3, 2024
Anne Applebaum, a staff writer for The Atlantic and expert on authoritarianism, delves into the modern tools autocrats use to consolidate power. She discusses how international finance supports dictators and the fragile nature of their regimes. Applebaum explains the rise of authoritarian populism and how democracies can internally reform to resist these threats. The conversation highlights the complexities of media control and its role in shaping perceptions, ultimately urging democratic nations to strategize against autocratic influences.
49:14
Episode guests
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Autocratic regimes leverage international financial systems and alliances to sustain power, complicating democratic efforts to initiate regime change.
- Democracies can counter authoritarianism by fostering coalitions for transparency and listening to opposition voices to strengthen internal resistance.
Deep dives
Resurgence of Dictatorships
In recent decades, there has been a notable resurgence of dictatorships that have managed not only to survive but to expand their influence globally. This trend has been significantly supported by alliances among autocratic regimes, which offer each other military and economic assistance. For example, countries like Russia and China have been instrumental in providing military equipment and surveillance technologies to regimes like that of Maduro in Venezuela. This cooperation suggests a tacit understanding among dictators that maintaining each other in power is crucial for their own survival, as the fall of one dictator poses a potential threat to the stability of the others.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
