Autocracy, InC.
"Autocrats have an enormous incentive to spread that hopelessness and cynicism, not only in their own countries, but around the world."
After all that happened during these last weeks, I wanted to get this one to you as soon as possible. I cannot stress enough how important I think it is.
For those of us who live in Western democracies, it's comforting to think about autocratic regimes as something that is of no concern for us. Autocrats rule over their own people and stick to political issues at home. They design a state according to their wishes and spread fear and terror, yet, ultimately, they face isolation. But what happens when autocrats from all over the world rally behind a common goal: to systematically undermine the ideas of liberal democracy and human rights?
In "Autocracy, Inc." Anne Applebaum shows that autocratic regimes around the world have grown immensely in confidence over the last decades. They have established a global network of economic cooperation and information exchange with the intention to keep each other in power. The long-held belief of many Western democracies that ideals like the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of speech would inevitably triumph and spread to more oppressive regimes, especially through trade, turned out to be an illusion.
Instead, Western liberal democracies have grown economically dependent on autocratic regimes and have invited their money into all kinds of economic enterprises, from pipeline construction to real estate. The desired political change in countries like Russia, Venezuela, or China, however, never occurred. At the same time, these regimes have intensified relationships with each other, in many cases reducing the impact of sanctions and isolation imposed by democratic countries. For example, the money that autocrats squeeze out of their citizens often finds its way into some shell company in a like-minded regime around the world.
On a more abstract level, Autocracy Inc. seeks to actively undermine democratic ideals by reframing them as destabilizing and by discouraging citizens from participating in democratic processes. Autocrats achieve this by establishing sophisticated "information laundering" networks designed to sow distrust and division. These networks are no longer restricted to their own countries but extend around the world (for example, Russia Today is available in many different languages). One by one, rules that the democracies of the global community have taken for granted—manifested in texts such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—are disregarded and replaced by twisted interpretations of buzzwords such as national sovereignty and mutual tolerance.
The rise of social media has even made the killing of political dissidents less attractive for autocrats. Why go to the lengths of sending an assassin around the world to take out your opponent when you can just ignite an online smear campaign to isolate them completely? Parts of this strategy have found their way into democratic discourse as well, demonstrating the susceptibility of liberal societies to these tactics.
Applebaum's conclusion and appeal are as expected as they are essential. Democracy is not inevitable. It's time to wake up and face Autocracy Inc. with just as much conviction and investment as they bring to the table. The geopolitical situation is incredibly dynamic, and the actions and decisions countries take matter. Institutions and actors at every level, from economics (putting an end to transnational corruption) and politics to the media (promoting international investigative journalism), must be designed to promote transparency over anonymity, justice over exploitation, and freedom over tyranny.
I want to echo Applebaum's sentiment. Democracy can be frustrating and slow. Sometimes it may seem like we're not going anywhere. But once we begin to question or take for granted what democracy has given us—freedom of speech, rule of law, access to quality information, and the opportunity to make our voices heard—we're doomed. And Autocracy Inc. wins.