The Seduction of Autocracy, with Anne Applebaum and Jonathan Freedland

Svetlana Boym's "The Future of Nostalgia" explores the multifaceted nature of nostalgia and its impact on individual and collective identity. Boym distinguishes between two types of nostalgia: restorative and reflective. Restorative nostalgia seeks to recapture a lost past, often associated with nationalistic or reactionary movements. Reflective nostalgia, on the other hand, acknowledges the complexities of the past and engages with it critically. Boym's work examines the political and cultural implications of nostalgia, highlighting its potential for both positive and negative social consequences. The book offers a nuanced understanding of nostalgia's role in shaping our understanding of the past and its influence on the present.

Published in 1927, 'La trahison des clercs' or 'The Treason of the Intellectuals' is a seminal work by Julien Benda that critiques the intellectual corruption of his era. Benda argues that intellectuals had a moral duty to judge political and military events dispassionately and uphold truth, beauty, and justice. However, many intellectuals of the 19th and 20th centuries had betrayed this duty by aligning themselves with less humane and less desirable ideologies such as populism, nationalism, and racism. Benda posits that intellectuals should engage in political protest when they see transcendental values being traduced, citing examples like Émile Zola’s intervention in the Dreyfus affair and Voltaire’s defense of Jean Calas. The book is a call for intellectuals to maintain their intellectual integrity and stand against the tides of unreason[1][3][4].

In 'Gulag: A History', Anne Applebaum provides a detailed and documented history of the Soviet camp system. The book covers the chronological history of the camps, from their establishment in 1918 to their expansion under Stalin and their eventual collapse. Applebaum draws on Soviet-era archives, diaries, and writings of camp survivors to describe the lives and deaths of inmates, including their arrest, interrogation, transportation, and living conditions. The book also examines the cultural and social aspects of life within the Gulag, including its own laws, customs, literature, and morality. It is recognized as a landmark work of historical scholarship and an essential contribution to understanding the history of the twentieth century.

In 'Twilight of Democracy,' Anne Applebaum explores the rise of authoritarianism and nationalism in modern democracies. She argues that political systems with radically simple beliefs are inherently appealing, especially when they benefit loyal adherents to the exclusion of others. The book examines how despotic leaders rely on allies, bureaucrats, and media figures to support their rule and how modern authoritarian parties offer new paths to wealth and power. Applebaum draws on historical examples, including Stalinist central Europe and Nazi Germany, and investigates contemporary phenomena such as conspiracy theories, social media, and nostalgia. She warns that democracies are fragile and their survival depends on daily choices made by both elites and ordinary people.