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100. Anne Applebaum: Corruption, Populism, and Ending the War in Ukraine

Sep 29, 2024
In this discussion, Anne Applebaum, an American-Polish journalist and historian known for her insights on autocracies, dives into the landscape of global politics. She explores what defines an autocratic state and how populism surged in the early 2010s. Anne scrutinizes the hypocrisy in international relations, particularly regarding foreign influence on US and UK politics. The conversation touches on the resilience of democratic movements in oppressive regimes and offers a glimpse into possible outcomes of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
51:02

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Anne Applebaum highlights the shift in political discourse since 2012, driven by social media that favors division over constructive debate.
  • The complacency of Western governments towards Russian oligarchs has enabled corruption to undermine democratic institutions and escalate the Ukraine conflict.

Deep dives

Personal Journey Through Eastern Europe

The speaker recounts several pivotal chapters in her relationship with Eastern Europe, beginning with a formative trip to the Soviet Union as a student. Experiencing the transition in Poland post-1989 offered her valuable insights into the political changes taking place. Her marriage to a Polish politician enabled her to gain an insider perspective on the complexities of Eastern European politics. This journey culminated with witnessing the resurgence of democratic coalitions in Poland, highlighting a moment of hope amid ongoing challenges.

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