Autocracy’s Fatal Flaw – The Will of the People

Anne Applebaum and Dorian Lynskey captivated the audience in their discussions of the autocracies of today and their evolution into an enterprisal trans-national criminal collaboration. Such a concept is a key theme in Applebaum’s latest book Autocracy Inc. and she conveyed such a complex and heavily nuanced topic with immense clarity.  Applebaum stated that autocracies “have a common interest in the criminal world.” She explained how modern authoritarian regimes have formed alliances and found common ground with one another, despite their vast differences in ideology, culture, and geography. Although separated by tens of thousands of kilometres, these regimes have constructed mutual dependence, united by their shared goal of avoiding Western sanctions and sustaining power.

Expelled and segregated from the democratic world, modern autocracies such as Iran and Venezuela must co-operate to maintain their iron grip on power. But autocracies have a fatal flaw: the will of the people. She talked about how autocracies of the past and present have waned, weakened, and fallen due to the consensual and righteous will of the people that demands change and democracy. She also reminded the audience of their privilege to live in a democratic society and to be able to freely exercise their freedom of speech, in comparison to places like Iran and Venezuela, who face actual repression and censorship—yet nonetheless attempt to fell their oppressive overlords.

It was a highly refreshing event, with Applebaum speaking with admirable conviction and from a neutral perspective and hrt opinions seemed to interest a diverse demographic of individuals, of young and old alike—exemplifying the transcendent message of the book:  the people have the power.