The book explores the connections and risks posed by autocracies worldwide, highlighting their differences and the lack of a coordinated plan against Western powers. It reveals the financial ties and corruption among autocrats but questions their ability to mount a unified military challenge.
Anne Applebaum's 'Autocracy, Inc' delves into the similarities and differences among the world's autocracies, emphasizing their need for legitimacy and the varying principles they use to achieve it. The book argues that while these regimes share resentment towards American power, they lack the capacity and unified intent to challenge the West militarily. Instead, they are bound by financial ties and corruption, using state power to extract resources and launder money. The book also critiques Western democracies for their role in enabling these autocracies through economic engagement. While it provides a thorough investigation into the relationships and practices of these regimes, it falls short of proving that they are planning a joint confrontation with Western powers.
Quick quotes
The problem with her analysis is that these regimes differ as much as they resemble each other.
Autocracies, just like democracies, need legitimacy with their people.
Applebaum’s survey doesn’t ask the crucial question: whether these autocracies have the capacity to mount a collective and coordinated military challenge to American power and the system of rules that the United States created after 1945.