Interesting history of parallel trends in western countries. ( )

Sisältö on kiinnostavaa, mutta suomennos on valitettavan ontuva. Applebaum kuvaa monipuolisesti sitä ilmiötä, että osa länsimaisista konservatiiveista on muuttunut autoritarismin kannattajiksi ja heidän demokratiauskonsa on muuttunut ”kulttuuriseksi toivottomuudeksi”. ( )

In De schemering van de democratie beschrijft Applebaum hoe het komt dat politici hun democratische idealen hebben opgegeven en hoe ze o.a. complottheorieën inzetten om de samenleving te veranderen.

De schemering van de democratie van Anne Applebaum gaat over de verlokkingen van een autoritair systeem. In steeds meer landen heeft de democratie het zwaar. Liberale waarden worden ingeruild en het idee van een sterke leider die haast vereerd wordt, nationalistische bewegingen en het eenpartijstelsel winnen aan populariteit. In haar nieuwe boek De schemering van de democratie beargumenteert Anne Applebaum dat we ons niet moeten verbazen over deze ontwikkeling. Politieke systemen met simplistische overtuigingen hebben een natuurlijke aantrekkingskracht, vooral die systemen waarbinnen enkel de loyale volgers profiteren. Mensen kijken niet alleen naar ideologie, stelt ze, maar zijn ook praktisch, pragmatisch en opportunistisch. De autoritaire en nationalistische partijen die zijn opgekomen binnen de moderne democratieën bieden hun aanhangers nieuwe mogelijkheden om rijkdom en macht te vergaren.

In De schemering van de democratie beschrijft Applebaum hoe het komt dat politici, journalisten en intellectuelen in landen als de VS, Hongarije, Polen en het Verenigd Koninkrijk hun democratische idealen hebben opgegeven, en hoe ze complottheorieen, politieke polarisatie, social media en nostalgie inzetten om de samenleving te veranderen.

'In korte reportages over gefaalde vriendschappen is Applebaum op haar best; haar kortaffe stijl en licht misprijzende humor zijn een verademing' – NRC, vier ballen

The author recounts her witness of European politics as a center-right journalist covering European affairs. A celebrated author of Eastern European political history of the 20th-century, she is an American expatriate to Poland where she is also a public figure as the wife of a prominent politician who has fallen out with the far right government that has consolidated political control. Poland's leadership suppresses dissent, demonizes immigrants and jews, controls media messaging and reach, and promotes a brand of cultural traditionalism. Applebaum also follows parallels in the recent conservative political movements in the UK, Hungary, and the USA. These movements market "restorative nostalgia" to rally conservatives to nationalist causes like Brexit and MAGA, building a base from fear of the social changes in our modern age. Some of these leaders and activists were once allies of Applebaum, as conscientious anti-communists seeking a more free Europe and America, but having come into power have adopted the very strategies of authoritarianism they used to denounce communism. And it's hard to tell how much of this consolidation of power is for their extremist ideals or for power's sake.

I can't decide whether to be optimistic or pessimistic after this book. I think Applebaum could have added case studies (to varying degrees) in Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Italy, France, and China. I worry for the state of pluralism and liberal democracy around the world. These authoritarian-leaning states embrace the cynicism of their message, and it seems to be very effective. Maybe our modern political malpractice will be a counterexample that future generations will reject. ( )

The author covers the rise of authoritarianism in countries ranging from Law and Justice in Poland to Orban's Hungary. Brexit's rise, along with Vox in Spain are analyzed for the common theme of, not the Big Lie, but the "Mid-Lie." Under two hundred pages, Applebaum closes with her experience with some of Trump's eventual supporters. I found many of her chapters so basic that I slid into skimming. We all know about Trump and the birther movement. Applebaum explained how the conspiracy theory behind the Smolensk plane crash helped feed the rise of Law and Justice. This before the abortion issue in Poland provoked thousands of Polish women into protest. The book closed with less than inspiring messages of hope. I have read Applebaum's other books, and found them well researched, well-written and thorough. Clearly, Twilight of Democracy was a light diversion before tackling a weightier, more voluminous challenge which I will look forward to reading. I'm afraid I cannot recommend this one -- closer to two and a half than three. ( )