Anne Applebaum with Madeleine Brand: Autocracy, America, and the Erosion of Democratic Leadership
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—joined moderator Madeleine Brand to examine how autocratic methods are reshaping global politics and how the United States’ own behavior is affecting its democratic standing. The conversation explored Applebaum’s latest work, Autocracy, Inc., and asked what has changed since its initial publication—especially for Americans, allies, and adversaries watching the U.S. closely.
A Democratic World in Flux
Applebaum argues that the core “network of autocracies”—Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, and others—has not evolved dramatically in the past year. What has shifted, she contends, is the democratic world, with the United States experiencing the most disorienting change. While she stops short of labeling America an autocracy, Applebaum observes that hallmark behaviors of authoritarian systems—financial secrecy, conflicts of interest, pressure on the press and universities, and the politicization of justice—have moved closer to the center of U.S. governance. This, she says, reverberates far beyond Washington, altering how citizens and partners perceive the American project.
Importing the Tools of Autocracy
A through-line of Applebaum’s analysis is the normalization of tactics common in authoritarian states. She points to practices that blur ethical lines and degrade institutions designed to be independent—whether courts, research bodies, or the media. Equally consequential, in her view, is a shift in America’s cultural export. Where once U.S. influence traveled through institutions like Voice of America, jazz diplomacy, and the global appeal of Hollywood—with their associations of openness and pluralism—today the nation is often synonymous with social platforms that amplify disinformation, extremism, and manipulation. The result, she argues, is a diminished moral identity that weakens democratic solidarity.
America’s Image Abroad: From Anchor to Variable
Fresh from conversations in Europe, Applebaum describes allies’ growing anxiety about U.S. unpredictability. Businesses and governments that once relied on American steadiness now see political risk that complicates long-term planning, investment, and security coordination. That uncertainty creates strategic openings for adversaries, notably China and Russia. Even when allied ties remain deep—culturally, economically, and militarily—the perception of volatility alone can alter the choices of European and Asian partners, from trade to technology policy.
Autocrats Plan for Decades, America Chases the “Win”
Applebaum contrasts the patience and strategy of rulers like Putin and Xi with what she characterizes as short-term, optics-driven decision-making in Washington. She cautions that viewing foreign policy as a series of zero-sum public “wins” undermines U.S. competitiveness in areas that require sustained investment and trust—advanced research, green technology, and alliance networks. The problem isn’t only policy substance; it’s the time horizon. Autocrats often play the long game. Democracies can too, Applebaum suggests—but only when leaders and publics value continuity, credibility, and institutional strength over spectacle.
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.