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.
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Applebaum's Eastern European Journey
Anne Applebaum's first Eastern European experience was a student trip to the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
She lived in Poland during its transition, married a Polish politician, and observed the rise and fall of autocratic populism.
insights INSIGHT
West's Naiveté Towards Russia
The West was too willing to believe in a neutral economic relationship with Russia, ignoring political implications.
They allowed financial institutions to be exploited by Russian oligarchs for money laundering and hiding assets.
insights INSIGHT
Londongrad and Russian Oligarchs
Londongrad became a hub for Russian oligarchs, facilitated by enablers like lawyers, accountants, and property dealers.
The UK's legal framework made it attractive for figures like Berezovsky and Abramovich to reside and operate there.
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In 'Autocracy, Inc.', Anne Applebaum provides a detailed analysis of how modern autocracies operate, highlighting their sophisticated networks of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists. These autocratic regimes, spanning countries like China, Russia, and Iran, collaborate across borders to maintain power and undermine democracy. Applebaum argues that international condemnation and economic sanctions are ineffective against these autocrats and calls for democracies to fundamentally reorient their policies to combat this new threat. The book serves as both a historical investigation and a practical guide for defending democratic values against the rising tide of autocracy.
Kleptopia
Tom Burgis
Kleptopia delves into the intricate networks of corruption that span the globe, from the Kremlin to the White House, revealing how dirty money fuels authoritarian regimes and undermines democracies. Through compelling narratives, Tom Burgis illustrates the mechanisms of global kleptocracy and its profound impact on societies.
Butler to the World
Oliver Bullough
In *Butler to the World*, Oliver Bullough explores how Britain transitioned from a colonial power to a central hub for the global offshore economy, serving the interests of oligarchs and kleptocrats. The book critiques Britain's role in enabling financial crimes and questions its reliability as an ally in international efforts against corruption.
What constitutes an autocratic state? How did populism come to dominate global politics from 2012-2014? When and how will the war in Ukraine end?
On today’s episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by American-Polish journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, to discuss all this and more.
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