Anne Applebaum | Autocracy, Inc.

[@CaptainAhab-191]

I have closely watched world events for many years but what Anne is talking about in this discussion and in her new book (which I am currently reading) about autocracies working together-and together against democracies--had never dawned on me prior to hearing her talk about it. Somewhere early in this excellent discussion she says that once you see it, you can’t unsee it. That is exactly correct. Once it is explained and one “gets it,” one can see it plainly happening when one reads about world events in the daily newspapers or broadcast news. When you “get it,” you see it and Anne is expertly educating so many of us these days. Thanks for the interview and thanks to Anne for being ubiquitous these days in airing these important ideas about the contemporary political world.

[@tammielynn8273]

Excellent discussion!

[@ReadMoreHistory-v9u]

I read the book and everyone else should too. It is imperative to understand the world today.

[@singing-sands]

Brilliant interview! Brilliant woman!

[@hereigoagain5050]

Thanks Anne! Autocracy can happen here unless we all VOTE. If you don't vote, you don't count. Don't tell your grandchildren that you could have voted in our last election, but it was too much of a hassle. Be a hero. Have a plan. Register. Find your polling station or get a mail-in ballot. Make arrangements for transportation. Be prepared to wait in line. Have legitimate ID. Help your neighbors and fiends to get to the polls. Voting is your public responsibility.

[@socire72]

@@hereigoagain5050 “if voting changed anything, they’d do away with it” - Mark Twain

[@AzEagletarian]

The SCALE of the problem is because technology has enabled Autocracy, Inc.

[@RM-xf9gi]

Autocracies are taking advantage of technology and if us regular folk want to stay relevant we better learn how to hustle and use tech to our advantage! We need government representation to help us so our vote really matters.

[@larsthomsen6434]

next battle will be on Large Language Models (LLMs) where bias can be inbuilt. As people relay on these models more and more, they will be invisibly controlled by the filters. You can today download uncensored models that will give you the raw information extract to your questions - but soon these might be made illegal. Now who controls the source of information you have access to to, or who put in the bias in it - is the one who controls you. Secondly, as the LLMs becomes more integrated into society they might start to limit you because your questions has fallen outside "an acceptable range". That could result in no access to your selfdriving car, closing of bank accounts, cancellation of insurances etc.

[@azalia423]

She doesn't mention that izrale is arming the world's autocrats, from Viktor Orbán to Mohammed bin Salman. See Antony Loewenstein

[@Blanka1100]

She is married to Poland's FM, Radek Sikorski. He is the best FM Poland has ever had. They are both great.

[@stringlarson1247]

@@Blanka1100 That bit took me by surprise. Not that he's great, but that she's married to him. I'd love to hear the backstory.

[@Blanka1100]

@@stringlarson1247Sikorski and Applebaum are married for 32 years now. They met when he was working as a journalist for British press. Funny thing is...he was dating Olivia Williams at that time (the one from "The Crown") He helped Anne when her car was broken. He changed the wheel and this is how it all started. At least this is what he says. They have two sons.

[@stringlarson1247]

@@Blanka1100 Thanks. I know nothing of Sikorski. Some amazing lives, to be sure. I've been listening to William Shirer's _The Start_ which makes this rather ironic given the journalist/foreign correspondent aspect.

[@Blanka1100]

@@stringlarson1247 If you know nothing of Sikorski just watch his latest UN speeches. It went viral all over internet. I have always admired his no bs attitute. It is useful if you live next to Russia.

[@lesadelisi9385]

Thank you! I want to know more about what the common citizens of the US can do to stop this.

[@stringlarson1247]

F-all unless the avg. citizen becomes way more intelligent, informed, and involved. As if.

[@lizgichora6472]

Thank you Anne Applebaum.

[@teresahopemiller1008]

thank you for this badly needed material. Bless you.

[@isatousarr7044]

Autocracy, with its concentration of power in the hands of a single leader or a small elite, poses a significant threat to democratic principles and human rights. In autocratic regimes, the lack of checks and balances often leads to the erosion of freedoms, suppression of dissent, and violations of fundamental rights. The centralization of authority can undermine democratic institutions, limit political pluralism, and stifle public participation. Given these challenges, what measures can be taken to strengthen democratic frameworks and protect human rights in the face of rising autocratic tendencies, and how can international communities support and promote democratic values in countries experiencing autocratic governance?

[@socire72]

That first bit describes the USA perfectly

[@marygemmacapodanno2035]

What kind of lifestyle do the leaders of Venezuela have as opposed to the Venezuelan people?

[@lorisilverberg4689]

Brilliant!!

[@georgepotter1820]

Today's society is struggling with all kinds of crises all of which may be symptoms of ecological overshoot.

[@taralown7023]

she is just fabulous and smart

[@rekokung]

please compare Thailand and Venezuela

[@judykinsman3258]

Sure sounds like Netanyahu to me.

[@AzEagletarian]

And Trump, Kim Jung Un, Vlad Putin, Xi Jinping, Viktor Orban, Precip Erdogan, and others.

[@andy47456]

I listen to Anne a lot and have read her books. Her take on Venezuela is problematic. How does she know the Venezuelan election was rigged? The CIA has overthrown countless governments in Central and South America. Also, some of our allies like Saudi Arabia are FAR from democratic.

[@andy47456]

I listen to Anne a lot and have read her books. Her take on Venezuela is problematic. How does she know the Venezuelan election was rigged? The CIA has overthrown countless governments in Central and South America. Also, some of our allies like Saudi Arabia are FAR from democratic. And how about our politicians starting their careers with zero net worth and 6 years later they're work 36 million, like Liz Cheney. Do they all become brilliant stock pickers when they're in Congress?

[@socire72]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@AzEagletarianDid you just compare capitalists, Juche, another capitalist, a maoist, an authoritarian capitalist, and another authoritarian capitalist? I mean the capitalists are comparable but communism is the antithesis of that soo…

[@cv3183]

Has any country intervened in other peoples governments more than the USA ?

[@RM-xf9gi]

Who was more spontaneous? The USA goes after China all the time. China isn't supposed to do the same thing back to us? Just saying... 😊 I wish she would explain herself better.

[@georgine321]

Say what? China does not “go after” the US and many other? I wish you’d explain yourself better.

[@emilywang8325]

Double standards is the basic tool used by the western politicians.

[@nathanngumi8467]

Great discussion!