Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

I recently became familiar with Anne Applebaum's work when I read Autocracy Inc. I genuinely enjoyed her work, so I wanted to read more, hence Twilight of Democracy. She educates and provides an analytical framework for how to consider your information.This book is very relevant given today's state of affairs not only in the US, but in Europe and other parts of the world.

The irony is not lost on me that I finished this book just as the Jan 6 hearings were starting. Applebaum's thesis for this book is clear and terrifying, that "given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy," which until 2016 I wouldn't have believed. She explains those conditions and reveals the playbook for authoritarianism, particularly orchestrated in Poland, Hungary, Britain, Spain, Italy, (other parts of the world) and yes, America.I find this book authoritative, compelling, and objective. Keep in mind that the author identifies as a Republican, which for me, a "card-carrying, bleeding-heart, tree-hugging" liberal, to even read her work is a big deal. She doesn't just give the overview for the "right conditions" in a far-right world, but for the far-left as well, who both have similar tactics, motivations, and methodologies in delivering authoritarianism. So Applebaum's conclusions drawn for either party extreme is insightful. She's a perceptive historian who has a gift for explaining these complex ideas, definitions, and trends clearly.Although this book feels objective throughout, meaning she views and explains multiple perspectives, she also acts as participant and gives firsthand knowledge of many of the individuals that she's discussing. She also has lived and worked in America, Britain, Poland, and other parts of the world, and she's both a journalist and academic, so she brings a mix of life lived and historical research, both theory and practice, to this work. She makes this topic and the evolution of authoritarianism not just something in the past but something real with much currency and relevance for right now, especially in her discussion of nostalgia, nationalism, and fake news and especially in her view of Ukraine, the United States, and the overview of the circular themes in Europe concerning the far right.Her detailed overview of the persuasive techniques used by "this club" is chilling. She discusses those conditions which she mentions in her thesis, and after reading this text, I feel as if I've attended a university history course on authoritarianism (with a dynamic, creative, and deep-diving professor). This is my first text by Anne Applebaum, and I hope to read Red Famine and Gulag next.

This is an excellent book. In easy to read, and even entertaining prose, it provides penetrating insight as to why many people gravitate to authoritarianism. Certainly, as the author lays out early in the book, much is due to the fear of complexity and change. While I disagree with some aspects of the book, I find that it is well worth reading to stimulate thought about the current anti-democratic trends in so many countries long thought impervious to the degradation of reasoned political thought and open debate. A striking deficiency is the failure to give sufficient attention to the role of religion in buttressing authoritarian politics. For example, Putin’s use of the Orthodox Church, the hypocrisy of American Evangelicals in bolstering the viciousness and authoritarianism of Trump, the Catholic Church role in Poland, or the blatant authoritarian domination in Israel of the Palestinians in a nation defined by a particular religion. Where the book falls particularly short is a chapter devoted to America. It may simply not have been well thought out or even edited. For example, the editors missed the simple fact that Franklin Graham is not the president of Liberty University, an institution founded by Jerry Falwell and until recently headed by his son. The author also gives a remarkable amount of attention to Patrick Buchanan whose influence on American politics long ago faded to obscurity. Remarkably the author also gives considerable attention to the right wing extremist commentator Laura Engram as a symbol of much of what is happening in America while never mentioning the two term election as president of Barack Obama and what that says about the long term potential for American democracy and decency. The author also gives surprisingly little explicit attention to Donald Trump per se and his current enablers while giving so much attention to the likes of Buchanan and Engram. All that said, the book is after all fairly short while giving a highly well thought out analysis. It is well worth reading for anyone who wants to understand the current trend of populist and authoritarian politics sweeping Europe and the United States. The only reason I do not give it a five star rating is the serious deficiency of the chapter on the United States.