Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the WorldBy Anne ApplebaumPenguin Random House, 2024

Increasingly, autocracies are forming a collaborative system in which they actively support each other in consolidating power, undermining democratic institutions, and reshaping global norms. Anne Applebaum in her book Autocracy, Inc. provides incisive analysis spanning continents, ideologies, and regimes, painting a vivid picture of a world where authoritarianism is not merely a domestic phenomenon but a coordinated transnational network that is far more collaborative than common perceptions of isolated autocrat strongmen in individual states. Hence, the bookprovides a powerful exploration of the growing transnational network of modern autocratic regimes that is collaborative, adaptable, and looking to undermine and devalue democracy.

At its core, Autocracy, Inc. argues that modern autocracies are far more interconnected than they appear. Applebaum traces the rise of an informal alliance among authoritarian states like Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Belarus, and others, examining how these regimes exchange resources, technology, propaganda strategies, and diplomatic support to strengthen their grip on power. Unlike the rigid ideological unity of the Cold War-era communist bloc, this new autocratic network is pragmatic, transactional, and highly adaptive.

Applebaum contends that these regimes share a common goal: to maintain and expand their power while resisting the democratic values championed by the liberal international order. This is achieved through a mix of overt and covert means, including military support, economic ties, and disinformation campaigns. In doing so, autocracies not only bolster their domestic control, rather they are collaborating to destabilise democracies by exploiting their vulnerabilities.

The book offers a panoramic view of how these regimes collaborate. For example, Russia exports disinformation expertise and mercenaries, while China provides surveillance technology and economic investment. Iran contributes military hardware and strategic alliances, while smaller autocracies like Belarus serve as staging grounds or test cases for broader strategies. Collectively, these actions form a self-reinforcing system that allows........

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