Anne Applebaum's 'Autocracy, Inc.' explores the rise of global authoritarianism, focusing on the financial and media links between autocratic regimes. The book is praised for its exploration of authoritarianism but criticized for its narrow focus on America's enemies and its lack of comprehensive analysis of global political dynamics.
Anne Applebaum's 'Autocracy, Inc.' delves into the rise of twenty-first-century authoritarianism, highlighting the financial and media connections that bind various autocratic regimes. The book is commended for its detailed examination of the subject, but it is also criticized for its narrow focus on the atrocities committed by America's enemies, while largely ignoring the role of the United States and its allies in global authoritarianism. The reviewer notes that Applebaum's analysis is bifurcated, offering a limited perspective on the broader global political landscape. The book's central thesis is that a group of autocratic states, referred to as 'Autocracy, Inc.,' operates through financial and disinformation networks to undermine democratic values. However, the reviewer argues that the book fails to provide a comprehensive analysis, as it overlooks the role of Western powers in supporting and perpetuating authoritarian regimes. Overall, the review suggests that while 'Autocracy, Inc.' offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of authoritarianism, it falls short in providing a holistic understanding of the global political dynamics at play.
Quick quotes
The liberal West is under threat. Its enemy: a collection of antidemocratic forces which Applebaum lumps together under the reductive moniker “Autocracy, Inc.
This group of “incorporated” autocracies includes China, Iran, Belarus, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, various African states, and most notably Russia.
_Autocracy Inc._ offers a bifurcated vision of democratic decline: narrowly obsessed with the very real atrocities of America’s enemies, at the cost of a comprehensive analysis of the global scene.