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

How do modern autocracies use technology and media to manipulate public opinion, both domestically and globally? How do these tactics challenge traditional democratic values?

How does Applebaum’s analysis of “multipolarity” in Russia’s global rhetoric reveal the strategic manipulation of seemingly neutral concepts to advance autocratic goals? How does this contrast with Western interpretations of the term? Can you think of other terms that are manipulated in a similar manner by far-right leaders?

Analyze Applebaum’s concept of “information laundering.” What are the implications for democratic societies struggling with misinformation and disinformation? What could be done to mitigate such harmful effects?

What parallels does Applebaum draw between historical movements for democracy, such as the Hungarian Revolution and Poland’s Solidarity movement, and the spread of modern democratic tactics across the world? How do these parallels illuminate current struggles for freedom?

In Autocracy, Inc., Applebaum contends that disinformation campaigns can be more appealing to certain segments of the public than factual information. Analyze this assertion by examining the psychological and social factors that make people desire disinformation, and how this undermines the foundational assumptions of liberal democratic discourse.

In what ways does Evan Mawarire’s story, as explored in Autocracy, Inc., highlight both the potential and limitations of grassroots activism in confronting entrenched autocratic regimes? Evaluate the factors that contribute to the endurance of autocracies despite popular resistance.

Applebaum frequently highlights the interconnectedness of autocratic regimes in Autocracy, Inc. What forms does this interconnection take? How does it compare to geopolitical alliances of the past?

In Autocracy, Inc., Applebaum highlights aspects of Western complicity in perpetuating autocratic regimes. What are some examples of this complicity? What other aspects of complicity, if any, has she downplayed or overlooked?