Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

The historian, lecturer, and author of the Pulitzer Prize provides a thorough analysis of the reasons why authoritarianism is returning with a sinister twist in the twenty-first century as well as a professional guide to understanding the allure of the strongman as a leader.

Today, populism and nationalism are on the increase and liberal democracy is under attack around the globe, from the Americas to Europe and beyond. Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum provides an unexpected explanation in her book Twilight of Democracy: authoritarianism, strongmen, and one-party rule, in particular, have a deep and innate appeal. These political systems serve the interests of the Leader's friends and distant cousins, as well as true believers and loyal soldiers.

She contends that people are pragmatic, opportunistic, and realistic in addition to being ideological. Their families, homes, and professions are their top concerns. Certain political systems provide opportunities for them, while others do not. Particularly, those who do not flourish in the meritocratic, democratic, or free-market competition that decides access to money and power now have the chance to succeed thanks to the contemporary authoritarian parties that have emerged inside democracies.

Through her reporting from Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, and Brazil, as well as her historical analysis of Stalinist central Europe and Nazi Germany, Anne Applebaum brilliantly illuminates the allure of totalitarian thought and the enduring appeal of the one-party state. She also delves into related phenomena such as modern conspiracy theories, political polarisation, nostalgia for a bygone era, and meritocracy and its problems.