Charles Dunst

Charles Dunst, a former journalist and deputy director of research at The Asia Group, discusses strategies to strengthen democracies in the face of rising authoritarianism. He emphasizes the significance of Singapore as a case study for effective governance while warning against blind admiration for autocratic efficiency. Dunst highlights the importance of investing in public goods and embracing immigration to compete with autocracies. He also explores the interconnectedness of domestic health and foreign policy, stressing that internal challenges can weaken global responses to authoritarian threats.

By many accounts, the United States is living through a new era of competition—not just between major powers and strategic rivals, but between ideologies. Around the world, many authoritarian governments seem to be on the rise, even as many liberal democracies are facing a crisis of confidence, including, by some accounts, here in the United States.In a new book entitled, “Defeating the Dictators,” Charles Dunst, a former journalist and current deputy director of research and analytics at The Asia Group, lays out what he sees as the right strategy for making democracies more effective and defeating the appeal of authoritarian government. Lawfare Senior Editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with him to discuss his new book, the importance he places on Singapore as a case study, and how the domestic remedies he focuses on translate into foreign policy.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.