(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“The autocracies want to create a global system that benefits thieves, criminals, dictators, and the perpetrators of mass murder. We can stop them.”
Historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, suggests what democracies can do to save their political systems and why we should fear these present-day autocracies in her latest book, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.
Totalitarian governments have changed since the last century. The world economy is so much more complex now. Today’s dictators have become allies regardless of ideology –both communist and fascist – with the quest to destabilize democracies throughout the world. These kleptocracies realize that by working together they can gain constant wealth for their leaders. They don’t care how they are perceived throughout the world; the goal is self-enrichment. Many countries have governments that are not complete democracies or autocracies, but their leaders are not immune from this behavior. Look at Erdogan of Turkey and Orbán of Hungry, and specifically Erdogan’s involvement with Maduro of Venezuela.
Though I have just summarized this, Applebaum provides in-depth, well-researched history with specific examples. She explains how countries, such as Russia, China, Venezuela, and Iran collaborate to achieve their goals. She reveals the tactics used such as money laundering, smear campaign. Also, she provides proof of how these often-legal acts continue to negatively affect countries such as the United States and Britain. Her proposed solutions are solid and make sense.
No one is unaffected by these dictatorships, Autocracy, Inc. We must resist any politician who praises autocrats, or believes that they can do business with them. This book is a must-read for all who care about their neighborhood, country and the world they live in. A real eye-opener!
