The new age of autocrats

“The new age of autocrats”

From Putin to Trump: why political strongmen keep winning.

BY JOHN CONNELLY

The new age of autocrats (newstatesman.com)

This article in The Newstatesman proposes to study the success of authoritarian leaders based on the

analysis of Applebaum, a journalist and author specialised in communism and author of “The

Twilight of democracy”.

Vocabulary:

● enlightener → illuminateur

● decency → décence

● predicament → impasse

● the movement’s standard-bearer → le porte-drapeau du mouvement

● twilight → crépuscule

● revealing insights → perspectives révélatrices

● sweeping → radical

● dispassionate → objectif, impartial

● smuggling → contrebande

● children in tow → enfants à charge

● careerism → cariérisme

● sibling rivalry → rivalité fraternelle

Summary:

Applebaum and Connely ask the same question: how does one become a proponent of

authoritarianism? According to Applebaum, democracies are born and disappear, but we can't explain

why, but according to Connely, a clue can be found in the history and analysis of populism. Populism

feeds on economic crises and the failures of democracy, especially when it is no longer able to

produce effective social policies. If populists fail to provide a better life for their constituents, the only

thing they have to offer is hatred. Ultimately, history teaches us that to get out of an authoritarian

political hell, it is necessary to fight for democracy by putting in power people attached to nuance and

not to extremes.

Personal comments:

This article offers a critique of Applebaum's work to understand why authoritarian leaders are so

successful, then and now. Connely helps us understand Applebaum's point of view by telling his life

story. Without trying to describe Applebaum, Connery nevertheless explains that his work is not

always convincing and has dead ends. The author, a history professor, compares Applebaum's work

with his own vision and experience of authoritarianism to give a personal explanation. The vocabulary

used by Connelly suggests to the reader that his vision of things is the most relevant because he starts

from

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