KQED's Forum Michael McFaul on the Threat of Autocracy at Home and Abroad
Nov 12, 2025
Michael McFaul, a political science professor and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, shares his insights on the rise of autocracy in both Russia and America. He discusses Putin's ideological drive and the dangers it poses to NATO. McFaul argues that U.S. polarization feeds autocrats, weakening democracy globally. He addresses the implications of sanctions against Russia and warns about the potential for conflict over Taiwan, drawing parallels between current political dynamics and historical threats to democracy.
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Putin's Russia Is More Dangerous Than Before
- Vladimir Putin has turned Russia into a more dangerous autocracy than in the late Soviet period and pursues imperial conquest.
- His probing of NATO raises real risk of dragging the alliance into direct conflict with Russia.
Putin Motivated By Fear Of Democracy
- Putin's hostility stems from fear of democratic movements he blames on the West, not solely geopolitical calculations.
- Events like Ukraine's Orange Revolution and the Arab Spring hardened his ideology and repression.
Fortify NATO To Prevent Escalation
- Strengthen NATO deterrence to make any attack on an ally clearly costly and unattractive.
- Prepare for Russian tactics that aim to sow alliance divisions before they attempt larger aggression.
