Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Anne Applebaum’s book on autocrats and autocracies. I had read her book, Iron Curtain, on how the Soviet Union took over Eastern Europe after WW II, and what it was like from the point of view of the regular person, but this book is different. Autocracy, Inc examines how the various autocrats around the globe are currently working together to stay in power, so when one autocratic leader gets in trouble or needs help another autocratic nation comes to the rescue. The last chapter or two was interesting in that Applebaum, who has studied and written about modern Communism for a long time, says that what is happening in the United States right now is nothing like we have every experienced, so that looking backwards for answers and comparisons may not be helpful. She talked about how the autocratic nations have moved on, from portraying their governments as ideal, because people could easily see that they weren’t telling the truth, to portraying the opposition as worse….sounds like trump. One insight she offers is that the democracies of the world need to start working together. They currently are not, not as much as they could be, and are getting overpowered. She briefly wrote about Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s success in debunking Russian lies before they hit the news, called “pre-bunking”. She has pivoted her attention to trump in the USA, because after studying Communism and autocracy for many years in Europe and other parts of the world, it unexpectedly came home. The audiobook is a little less than 5 hours long, and Applebaum herself narrates it. I always appreciate it when the author reads their own writing. Very well researched and clearly written

A quick read for understanding the topic that is relevant for today. Amazon service was fast.

In her latest offering, “Autocracy, Inc.,” historian and author Anne Applebaum explains which nations have become autocracies, how they now work together, who their leaders are, and the various strategies and tactics they currently employ to undermine and destroy democracy around the world. Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, and many others have no interest in protecting human rights, only in fostering their own sovereignty, i.e., their ability to control world events. Those who lead these autocracies care little for the welfare of the people they govern. As autocrats, they aim to amass absolute power. As kleptocrats, they build vast personal fortunes from monies stolen from their country's treasuries and citizens. And while Western politicians decry their abuses, Western bankers and businesspeople help them to hide what they’ve stolen. Well-researched and clearly written, Ms. Applebaum's 180-page treatise paints some frightening pictures. Readers interested in foreign relations, world affairs, the future of democracy, and possibly, the next great battle, will want to give it a try.

An excellent reading experience and eye opening.

Since 2014 I've started feeling confused about the world. This book as well as Barbara F Walter's "Civil Wars" have finally helped me make sense of the world again. Why disinformation? What's true? Why the rise of populism, the hard right and identity politics in the West? Who profits? The book presents a unified and reasonable explanation for these questions, that goes far beyond the little chunks of truth one might find here and there, and that are canceled by a flurry of disinformation and conspiracy theories. Ms Applebaum also tries to provide a solution which, though appealing, failed to convince me, but I still uphold my title to this review. Know thy enemy... Do start now!

Excellent book, although the subject is frightening. As I write this review in February 2025, and watch Trump and Musk disassemble the Federal government with the full-throated support of their MAGA followers, it's like I can check off every tactic Ms. Applebaum lists for the creation of an American Autocracy. Convince followers to ignore and disparage a free press, check. Destroy credibility of the FBI, check. Appoint cronies to muzzle the military and intelligence agencies, check. 'Wood Chipper' USAID that annoys other autocrats, check. Command Justice department to turn a blind eye to bribery and foreign influence investigations, check. I'm afraid what tomorrow will bring, but I'm sure it will be on this author's hit list. It was apparently written before the 2024 election, so expect another book soon that deals with living in an autocracy for Americans who thought this could never happen here. Sobering and a call to fight back if you want the US to ever be close to the democracy it once was.

This book arrived promptly, in perfect condition. I have just read the Introduction, which is a good analysis & an interesting take on the US '24 election. The book appears to be a concise work, while covering a lot. The author is a recognised political historian and I definately recommend it.

In case one has been wondering what Anne Applebaum is doing these days (in recent years, that is), this book is the answer. Very accurately, frighteningly so, the book lifts the curtain on a scary slice of the world we live in. A slice which is growing. This is not about the coming hot war, nor about an ideological cold war (that is passe), it is about bad men (it is nearly always men) arranging the world so that they can continue to do bad things. Mostly to keep absolute power, which apparently is the source of their happiness. In my view, the main lever in Autocracy, Inc. is Russia's Putin. Were Russia to be a more normal, more open democracy, the baddies of this world would have a significantly harder time. True, China is and will be there, but that regime is more passive. America keeps withdrawing from the world (with Trump faster, without him slower, but the direction of travel is there); and Europe is a fat, toothless economic giant having it too easy in this world (which explains why millions dream of getting there). Again, a great book.

A very insight-providing book, rich with examples of what autocracies are not afraid of doing. The last part about what can be done rings a positive tone, and is not entirely convincing regarding how applicable it is on the global scale (the usual gap between theory and practice), but local examples are hope-inducing.

Well written, up to date, it has a good deal of information about today's autocracies

Simply fantastic book I have ever read.