Anne Applebaum on Autocracy, Inc.
The Good Fight
Eroding Freedoms in Authoritarian Regimes
From 2014 onward, there has been a notable shift in authoritarian regimes, necessitating enhanced repression tools to counter dissent. This transition impacts local human rights groups striving for regime accountability, as well as independent publications that previously enjoyed a degree of operational freedom. The environment for open expression has significantly deteriorated; what was once a space for public discourse has transformed into one of repression. Early 2010s experiences in China and Russia highlighted a time when critical discussions were possible in smaller, localized settings. However, as the risks of these conversations spreading increased, so did the regime's intolerance, significantly eroding the public's access to varied information and stifling freedoms.
