Autocracy, Inc.

June 15, 2024
The noted journalist and student of tyranny turns her attention to Trump, Putin, and numerous other modern authoritarians. "A world in which autocracies work together to stay in power, work together to promote their system, and work together to damage democracies is not some distant dystopia," writes Applebaum. "That world is the one we are living in right now." In the meantime, she notes, democracies, as if paralyzed, accommodate both the lawlessness of the autocrats and the violence they incite: Witness, for instance, the growing myth that Jan. 6, 2021, was acceptable political expression. Whereas autocrats once worked singly, today they're shored up by an international kleptocracy and shared understandings--don't criticize my oppressiveness, and I won't criticize yours--that make allies of disparate rulers from Washington to Budapest to Harare. These rulers are shameless, Applebaum notes. They no longer bother to disguise their acts of aggression and brutality, as with Putin's invasion of Ukraine, a declaration that old rules no longer applied. Autocrats differ in style, but they share a hatred for an independent judiciary, representative government, and the free press--i.e., all the hallmarks of democracy. Against this, Applebaum suggests, it behooves the democratic nations of the world to band together in mutual support precisely because "their democracies are not safe." One means of support would be to reject news that comes from the likes of Russia Today and Xinhua, which inform so much antidemocratic dissension in the "free world," and instead insist on reliable information. Exactly how this is to be achieved isn't quite clear, but it's a worthy idea, as is the suggestion that increased policing of kleptocratic antics and their enablers--not least "the bankers in Sioux Falls happy to accept mystery deposits from mystery clients"--is needed. Central to any discussion of modern totalitarianism.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 20, 2024

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Applebaum (staff writer, The Atlantic; Twilight of Democracy) explores the connections between autocratic states. She argues that autocracies such as China and Russia are motivated by a shared ideology and desire to increase their own wealth and power. Therefore, she asserts, they cooperate to enrich themselves and to undermine democracies and ideals which threaten their goals. Her book shows that autocracies create their own networks of support to circumnavigate international sanctions, reduce transparency, encourage corruption, and advocate for changing international laws and norms for their own benefit. Additionally, they utilize similar strategies to discredit democracies and dissenters. She explores topics such as money laundering, surveillance, propaganda, and resistance movements to show the similarities in tactics between autocratic states and analyzes how their activities can spill over into democracies. The author clearly explains why autocratic tactics have been effective and uses examples of historic and recent events in places such as China, Russia, Belarus, Venezuela and Zimbabwe to illustrate. Her book includes recommendations for democracies to combat autocracies, which include transparency and joint action. VERDICT A fascinating and alarming look at authoritarian cooperation. Will appeal to readers interested in political science and the preservation of democracy.--Rebekah Kati

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.