Twilight of Democracy

Last updated

Twilight of Democracy
Twilight of Democracy book cover.jpeg
Author Anne Applebaum
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date
2020
Pages224
ISBN 9780385545808

Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism is a 2020 book by Anne Applebaum that discusses democratic decline and the rise of right-wing populist politics with authoritarian tendencies, with three main case studies: Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The book also includes a discussion of Hungary.

Contents

Appelbaum's analysis focuses in particular on the intellectuals, whom she labels "clercs", who provide the intellectual justifications for a descent into authoritarianism. [1]

Content

Applebaum, an American journalist who lives partly in Poland, opens the book with a 1999 party she held in Poland, attended by center-right proponents of democracy and "free-market liberal[ism]", from which she traces the evolution of the attendees to the modern day. According to Applebaum, over the years some of the attendees came to embrace right-wing populism and authoritarianism (with some even promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories), [2] while others continued to be democrats. She labels the former group clercs, [note 1] from Julien Benda's book La Trahison des Clercs , and dedicates most of the book to explaining the evolution of these clercs from supporters of democracy to proponents of authoritarianism. She views these clercs as an essential component of the growth of authoritarianism as authoritarians, in her view, require not only mass support but also "the collaboration of people in high places". [2]

Among the key clercs profiled in the book are Rafael Bardají (Spain), Ania Bielecka (Poland), Simon Heffer (United Kingdom), Laura Ingraham (United States), and Mária Schmidt (Hungary). [3] They have, according to Appelbaum, "come to betray the central task of intellectuals, i.e. the search for truth". [3] Instead, their role is "to defend the leaders, however dishonest their statements, however great their corruption, however disastrous their impact on ordinary people and institutions". [4] Contrary to contemporary explanations of authoritarian support—economic distress, fear of terrorism, and the pressures of immigration— [1] she notes that these clercs are highly educated, well travelled, and economically prosperous. [2] She places their support for authoritarians instead in career advancement, revenge for slights by other elites, and a sense of "cultural despair" that existing elites have supposedly turned their countries into "dark, nightmarish place[s]". [2]

Applebaum also analyzes how ordinary people come to support authoritarianism. Here she blames the authoritarian personality of many people. [5] [3] In particular, in post-Communist Europe, Applebaum finds that many former anti-Communist activists felt let down by the system of meritocracy which did not give them the results they thought they deserved. [3] Applebaum writes that many followers of the right-wing populist parties came to believe in "medium-sized lies", conspiracy theories, and alternate realities. The harsh rhetoric of right-wing populists draws international attention to the rhetoric and away from authoritarian actions and political corruption. [3] According to Applebaum, "soft dictatorships" have been established in Poland by Law and Justice and in Hungary by Fidesz and Viktor Orbán. [6]

Reception

In The New York Times , journalist Bill Keller wrote that the book continues the discussion of the fate of democracy carried out in the books The Death of Democracy by Benjamin Carter Hett, about how the political failings in Weimar Germany contributed to the rise of Nazism, How Democracies Die , a political science book by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt discussing what went wrong in various recently failed democracies, and Surviving Autocracy, by Russian journalist Masha Gessen on Trumpism. Comparing the book with Applebaum's earlier substantial works, Keller describes it as "a magazine essay expanded into a book that is part rumination, part memoir". [1]

In The Guardian , John Kampfner called the book an "engrossing" political book that is "intensely personal, and the more powerful for it". [2]

Hungarian historian Ferenc Laczó labeled Applebaum "a Dreyfusard from the right" and states that her book lacks self-examination and "curiously fails to address in what ways the political successes and policy failures of Applebaum’s own Thatcherite camp might have enabled the rise of the new rightist political forces". He nevertheless considers the book "urgent" and an "essential read". [3]

In The American Scholar , Charles Trueheart described the book as a "bleak account of the West's slide toward tyranny". [6]

Notes

  1. "Translator's Note" to the English translation of Julien Benda's book while explaining the choice of the English title, The Treason of the Intellectuals, says that the term "clerc" was defined by Benda as "all those who speak to the world in a transcendental manner".

Related Research Articles

Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology, which seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values.

Right-wing politics is the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position based on natural law, economics, authority, property, religion, or tradition. Hierarchy and inequality may be seen as natural results of traditional social differences or competition in market economies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Populism</span> Political philosophy

Populism is a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group with "the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed in the late 19th century and has been applied to various politicians, parties and movements since that time, often as a pejorative. Within political science and other social sciences, several different definitions of populism have been employed, with some scholars proposing that the term be rejected altogether.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fidesz</span> Political party in Hungary

Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance is a right-wing populist and national-conservative political party in Hungary, led by Viktor Orbán.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Applebaum</span> American historian (born 1964)

Anne Elizabeth Applebaum is an American and naturalized-Polish journalist and historian. She has written extensively about the history of Communism and the development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law and Justice (Poland)</span> Political party in Poland

Law and Justice is a right-wing populist and national-conservative political party in Poland. Its chairman is Jarosław Kaczyński.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viktor Orbán</span> Prime Minister of Hungary (1998–2002; 2010–present)

Viktor Mihály Orbán is a Hungarian lawyer and politician who has been Prime Minister of Hungary since 2010, previously holding the office from 1998 to 2002. He has led the Fidesz political party since 1993, with a break between 2000 and 2003.

The term "illiberal democracy" describes a governing system that hides its "nondemocratic practices behind formally democratic institutions and procedures". There is a lack of consensus among experts about the exact definition of illiberal democracy or whether it even exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julien Benda</span> French essayist

Julien Benda was a French philosopher and novelist, known as an essayist and cultural critic. He is best known for his short book, La Trahison des Clercs from 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right-wing populism</span> Political ideology

Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right-wing nationalism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics and populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti-elitist sentiments, opposition to the Establishment, and speaking to or for the "common people". Recurring themes of right-wing populists include neo-nationalism, social conservatism, economic nationalism and fiscal conservatism. Frequently, they aim to defend a national culture, identity, and economy against perceived attacks by outsiders. Right-wing populism has remained the dominant political force in the Republican Party in the United States since the 2010s.

British neoconservatism is an ideology that is a strong proponent of foreign intervention in the Arab world and beyond, supports the role of the private sector in military contracts and is in favour of an alliance with Israel. It shares a world view with its American counterpart in regards to threats and opportunities.

Andrew Arato is a professor of Political and Social Theory in the Department of Sociology at The New School, best known for his influential book Civil Society and Political Theory, coauthored with Jean L. Cohen. He is also known for his work on critical theory and constitutions and was from 1994 to 2014 co-editor of the journal Constellations with Nancy Fraser and Nadia Urbinati.

In political science, the terms reactionary right and populist right have been used to refer to the range of nationalist, right-wing to far-right parties that have grown in support since the late 1970s in Europe. Populist right groups have shared a number of causes, which typically include opposition to globalisation and immigration, criticism of multiculturalism, and opposition to the European Union, but do not oppose democracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trumpism</span> American political movement

Trumpism is an authoritarian political movement that follows the political ideologies associated with Donald Trump and his political base incorporating ideologies such as right-wing populism, national conservatism, neo-nationalism, and neo-fascism. Trumpist rhetoric heavily features anti-immigrant, xenophobic, nativist, and racist attacks against minority groups. Other identified aspects include conspiracist, isolationist, Christian nationalist, protectionist, anti-feminist, and anti-LGBT beliefs. Trumpists and Trumpians are terms that refer to individuals exhibiting its characteristics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic backsliding</span> National decline in democracy

Democratic backsliding is a process of regime change towards autocracy that makes the exercise of political power by the public more arbitrary and repressive. This process typically restricts the space for public contestation and political participation in the process of government selection. Democratic decline involves the weakening of democratic institutions, such as the peaceful transition of power or free and fair elections, or the violation of individual rights that underpin democracies, especially freedom of expression. Democratic backsliding is the opposite of democratization.

Authoritarian capitalism, or illiberal capitalism, is an economic system in which a capitalist market economy exists alongside an authoritarian government. Related to and overlapping with state capitalism, a system in which the state undertakes commercial activity, authoritarian capitalism combines private property and the functioning of market forces with repression of dissent, restrictions on freedom of speech and either a lack of elections or an electoral system with a single dominant political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-gender movement</span> International movement opposed to an alleged gender ideology

The anti-gender movement is an international movement that opposes what it refers to as "gender ideology", "gender theory" or "genderism", terms which cover a variety of issues and do not have a coherent definition. Members of the anti-gender movement primarily include those of the political right-wing and far right, such as right-wing populists, conservatives, and Christian fundamentalists. It has been linked to a shift away from liberal democracy and towards right-wing populism. Anti-gender rhetoric has seen increasing circulation in trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) discourse since 2016. Members of the anti-gender movement oppose some LGBT rights, some reproductive rights, government gender policies, gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and gender studies academic departments. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has linked the anti-gender movement to the risk of "extreme violence" against the LGBT+ community.

Péter Krekó is a Hungarian economist, political psychologist, political scientist, and professor. He currently serves as the Director of the Political Capital Institute, and as a senior external researcher for the Center for European Policy Analysis.

Maciej Kisilowski is a Polish academic. He is associate professor in law and strategy at Central European University as well as the faculty director of CEU Executive MBA program. He is an expert on public-sector strategy as well as nonmarket strategy of businesses.

Liberalism has been a notable ideology in Poland for hundreds of years. Polish liberalism emphasizes the preservation of democracy and opposition to authoritarianism. Liberalism was first developed in Poland as a response to the Polish–Lithuanian monarchy, and it continued to develop in response to the partition of Poland through the 19th century and Communist rule in the 20th century. Poland has officially been a liberal democracy since 1989, though its status has challenged as a result of illiberal reforms in the 2010s and 2020s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Keller, Bill (19 July 2020). "Why Intellectuals Support Dictators". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kampfner, John (9 July 2020). "Twilight of Democracy by Anne Applebaum review – when politics ends friendships". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Laczo, Ferenc (13 July 2020). "A Dreyfusard from the Right – Twilight of Democracy". Visegrad Insight. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. Applebaum, Anne (2020). Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. Doubleday. p. 25. ISBN   978-0385545808.
  5. Berman, Sheri (24 July 2020). "The everyday decisions that undermine democracy". The Washington Post .
  6. 1 2 Trueheart, Charles (27 July 2020). "Creeping Illiberalism: A bleak account of the West's slide toward tyranny". The American Scholar. Retrieved 24 August 2020.