The Fight to Keep America Democratic: Insights from Anne Applebaum
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from October 15, 2025 | Autocracy Inc.: The Siege on Democracy. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, Anne Applebaum—Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, Atlantic staff writer, and senior fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS and the SNF Agora Institute—spoke with moderator Madeleine Brand about how democratic erosion unfolds from within. Drawing on her extensive research into authoritarian regimes, Applebaum warned that the United States is beginning to display troubling echoes of those systems—from the militarization of domestic law enforcement to the normalization of political violence. Yet, she insisted, the U.S. is not destined for autocracy—if citizens act.
The Authoritarian Playbook Comes Home
Applebaum, author of Autocracy, Inc., said the early warning signs of democratic decline are often subtle: small violations of law, tolerated abuses of power, and the public’s gradual acceptance of extraordinary behavior. She described a creeping “autocratic style” now visible in America—leaders targeting the press and universities, dismissing expertise, and bending institutions meant to be independent.
Of particular concern, she said, is the government’s increasing willingness to use federal law enforcement and military resources against its own citizens. The creation of a heavily funded “ICE paramilitary” force and attempts to send federal troops into cities like Portland and Chicago reflect, in her words, “a profound break from American tradition.” These are not the actions of a healthy democracy, she warned, but symptoms of one losing confidence in its own rule of law.
The Courts: Guardrails Under Strain
Even as some lower courts have blocked illegal actions or attempts to dissolve programs without congressional approval, Applebaum cautioned that the judiciary’s role as a check on executive power is far from assured. The Supreme Court’s recent decision granting broad presidential immunity from prosecution, she noted, sets a dangerous precedent.
“In other democracies,” she explained, “presidents and prime ministers have been prosecuted and even jailed. Accountability is normal. What’s abnormal is to declare the leader above the law.” Allowing any president to sidestep legal limits, she said, undermines the very idea of equal justice and weakens public trust in institutions that protect citizens from abuse.
Political Violence and the Fraying Union
Asked about the risk of civil war, Applebaum said she doesn’t foresee armies lining up on battlefields—but she is deeply concerned about what she calls the “fracturing” of the relationship between states and the federal government. When federal funds are weaponized to punish states or cities that vote differently, she warned, it erodes the cooperative foundation of the republic.
Meanwhile, political violence—threats against officials, assassinations, intimidation of local leaders—has already arrived. “The risk of public life has gone up,” she said, noting that fear and harassment now deter many qualified people from seeking office or speaking out. That chilling effect, she added, is precisely what authoritarians aim to achieve.
Protest, Participation, and the Power of Hope
Despite her stark assessment, Applebaum was adamant that the United States is not yet an autocracy. Americans still possess the tools to defend democracy—independent courts, a free press, and the right to organize and vote. “We are not powerless,” she stressed. “There is nothing predetermined about history.”
Peaceful demonstrations, such as the upcoming “No Kings” marches, can reinforce civic solidarity and remind both leaders and citizens that millions still care about democratic values. Drawing lessons from her time in Poland, Applebaum noted that public protests—even when they don’t immediately change policy—can alter atmospheres, embolden bystanders, and influence those inside government.
Her closing message was simple but urgent: democracy endures only when people act like citizens. Whether through voting, teaching, reporting, or marching, Americans still have agency. The fight to preserve democracy, Applebaum said, “depends not on the strength of one leader, but on the courage of many.”
Guardrails—and a Civic Call to Action
Despite the warning signs, Applebaum is clear: the United States remains a free society with real tools for self-correction—independent courts, civil society, free media, and the ballot box. She emphasizes that democratic backsliding is not destiny. The way out is the same as it has always been: engagement. Vote, organize, litigate, teach, report, and peacefully demonstrate. Protests don’t fix everything, she notes, but they build networks, shift norms, and remind wavering officials where the public stands. The lesson across eras and continents is simple but urgent: democracy survives when citizens show up for it.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.