Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World By Anne Applebaum

From Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times bestselling author Anne Applebaum comes Autocracy, Inc., an urgent and insightful examination of how autocratic regimes collaborate to destabilize democracies worldwide.

In the past, autocracies were characterized by a single dominant leader controlling state apparatus and repressing dissent. Today, however, the landscape has evolved dramatically. Modern autocracies are supported by complex networks involving kleptocratic financial systems, advanced surveillance technologies, and sophisticated propaganda operations. These networks span across regimes in China, Russia, and Iran, creating a web of corruption and manipulation.

Corrupt entities in one nation collaborate with those in another, while law enforcement agencies and propagandists share resources and strategies, perpetuating a global narrative against democracy and America. Economic sanctions and international criticism fall short of deterring these regimes, and even vibrant opposition movements in places like Venezuela, Hong Kong, and Moscow struggle against this coordinated effort.

Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc. is a masterful guide to understanding this new era of authoritarianism. Echoing George Kennan's call for the containment of Soviet power, she argues that democracies must fundamentally realign their strategies to combat this pervasive and evolving threat. The book is "a masterclass in the marriage of dodgy government to international criminality" (John Simpson, The Guardian), making it an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of global democracy. 📚❤️