Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World

Chapters 2 and 3 of Autocracy, Inc. dissect how authoritarian systems co-opt power structures, erode democratic ideals, and manipulate both internal and global narratives to maintain their influence. Applebaum continues her exploration of the evolution of kleptocracy as a political tool, while also discussing the manipulation of narratives through disinformation to maintain autocratic control.

In Chapter 2, Applebaum emphasizes how kleptocracy evolves from mere opportunistic corruption into an entrenched political strategy that sustains autocratic regimes. The case of Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela is illustrative. Chávez rose to power by exploiting public discontent with Venezuela’s oil-dependent but corrupt political system, only to embed himself in the very same corruption once in office. Applebaum highlights how this shift from reformer to autocrat is a hallmark of modern kleptocracies. Chávez’s suppression of investigations into corruption within his inner circle, as well as the sidelining of those like Jesús Urdaneta, points to how autocrats deliberately foster systems that allow them and their allies to siphon off public resources while eliminating checks and balances.

Kleptocracy “metastasizes” (the term used by Applebaum in the title of Chapter 2) as the regime becomes more dependent on illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and currency manipulation, which Chávez’s regime employed to maintain control over the state. Applebaum draws attention to how these criminal activities are not incidental but integrated into the political machinery, which ultimately succeeds in blurring the line between governance and organized crime.

Applebaum argues that the pattern of corruption can be observed across autocratic regimes worldwide, as corruption is not merely tolerated but used as a tool for loyalty and power consolidation. Thus, the metaphor in the title, “Kleptocracy Metastasizes,” illustrates how kleptocracy, like a form of cancer, evolves into deeply-entrenched systems that rely on global financial loopholes and black markets, making it increasingly difficult to dismantle them, ultimately suffocating the organism (in this case the state) that sustains it.

Moreover, Applebaum discusses how autocracies maintain their grip on power by manipulating narratives both internally and externally, reflecting The Use of Disinformation to Further Autocratic Interests. One of her key observations is the shift in propaganda strategies from the utopian visions of 20th-century communism to the modern autocratic approach that promotes cynicism and passivity. Autocrats like China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin no longer promise a better world; instead, they bombard their citizens with negative portrayals of democracy and the West, convincing them that no better alternative exists. Applebaum, instead, argues that nationalist rhetoric has replaced the old forms of utopian discourse, providing a grounding for the propaganda of autocratic regimes.

Applebaum discusses the contemporary media landscape in Russia. Like Timothy Snyder’s book, The Road to Unfreedom, she discusses the tactic of overwhelming citizens with false and conflicting information until they become cynical and disengaged. Applebaum argues that this tactic undermines democratic structures in a state, fostering a sense of hopelessness. Moreover, the narrative control is central to how autocracies sustain themselves, as it prevents the spread of democratic ideals both domestically and internationally.

Another example of how an internal and external censorship system functions that Applebaum discusses is China’s control of information. Internally, China uses the internet firewall to suppress democratic ideals and dissent. This internal information control is doubled by systematic violent repression of pro-democracy movements, such as China’s crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests, the 2019-2020 Hong Kong democracy protests, and the constant military activity that China uses as intimidation against Taiwan’s independence movement. The tight control over information, amplified by state-of-the-art surveillance systems, has allowed China to repress dissent on an unprecedented scale. By exporting this model of control to other autocracies, Applebaum warns that China’s authoritarianism could become a blueprint for regimes worldwide.

A crucial aspect of Applebaum’s analysis is the way modern autocracies form alliances that enable them to survive external pressures such as sanctions and international isolation. For example, in Chapter 2, Applebaum highlights how Venezuela, under Chávez and later Maduro, forged ties with other autocratic states such as Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey, which allowed the regime to circumvent US sanctions. These alliances, reaching beyond economic and ideologically-shared interest, built on shared anti-Western and anti-democratic sentiments. Applebaum argues that China’s willingness to lend money and provide investments to regimes like Venezuela’s leads to the creation of a system of aid that avoids the accountability that would normally accompany international aid. Nevertheless, Applebaum fails to mention the reports that argue that China has, in fact, put an end to its loans to Venezuela and is working on holding Venezuela’s regime accountable for previous loans.

Applebaum further expands on this idea by exploring how the global alliances between autocratic regimes involve the exchange of propaganda and disinformation, drawing upon The Silencing of Political Dissent. For example, she argues that Russia and China have successfully spread anti-Western narratives through coordinated media campaigns, particularly in regions like Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. These efforts, Applebaum notes, have been effective in shaping public opinion, as seen in the Russian disinformation campaigns about NATO. Autocracies thus use their global influence to support one another economically while shaping the narrative around democracy and autocracy worldwide.