Already in connection with the German election in 2017, she did a piece of work on Russian influence.
We wrote a report and traveled to Berlin, but the Germans didn't take it seriously at all. There has been a long, systematic campaign to shape public opinion, particularly in former East Germany. None of the major German parties have bothered, she says.
The Russian influence campaigns in Germany have aimed to reinforce existing tensions, according to Applebaum, who compares it to the American presidential election campaign. Now, Elon Musk, owner of X, is doing part of the Russians' job, she highlights.
He sympathizes with Russia and the far-right, he uses the platform's algorithms to promote these messages.
Globally
American-Polish Applebaum has made a name for herself for her ability to combine historical insights with analyses of the global situation. Her new book "Autocracy Inc." deals with how the world's autocrats – dictators who primarily want to enrich themselves – cooperate like a global company.
I tried to think of a metaphor that describes the relationship between this group of countries, and it's not an alliance, it's more like a group of companies that have their own business model but cooperate when they need to.
Applebaum highlights Russia, China, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Zimbabwe, and "maybe 35 countries more" whose leaders often live in luxurious palaces and organize their cooperation in profitable projects. But she also devotes significant attention to the naively optimistic Western world (including Bill Clinton, Gerhard Schröder) that believed trade would promote democratic initiatives. Putin also received significant help from Western greed, she claims.
We helped to launder money, many who rule Russia today could take their money out of the country and through financial institutions in the West. We made it possible for these kleptocratic states to grow around the world.
Awake
Applebaum calls for conscious strategies from the West in "question after question" where internet regulation is an example.
I hope the book can be a kind of awakening. I simply ask people to start thinking. How did we allow these regimes to shape the global conversation? It's a very broad problem and it will be with us for decades.
Erika Josefsson/TT
Facts: Anne Applebaum
TT
Born: 1964 in Washington DC.
Family: Married to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (formerly Defense Minister). Two sons.
Background: Was one of the first journalists to sound the alarm about Russian interference in American elections. Has written three books about the Soviet Union and broke through with "Gulag" in 2003.
... about Donald Trump as president:
He is very difficult to predict, since he is almost entirely interested in himself. If he sees ways that benefit him personally, he will take advantage of them. He will absolutely not see himself as the leader of a broad democratic alliance determined to push back against dictatorships.
He is a person who thinks a little like them, he thinks about his money, his own wealth, his own prestige.
... about peace negotiations with Russia:
It's idiotic to talk about something that's not possible. Russia wants war and they will continue to wage war until they are stopped. Or until they understand that they can't win. The only way it can end is if Russia is defeated or understands that they can't continue. Then we can have negotiations.
... about how the war can end:
The only way it can end is if we convince Russia that they can't win, and we haven't done that yet. We haven't allowed Ukraine to strike back at Russian targets, we haven't given Ukraine enough air defense, we've allowed Russia to destroy large Ukrainian power grids, which can lead to a massive new wave of refugees this winter.
... about the West's fear of the war spreading:
The fear was created by the Russians because they knew we would be afraid. They plan to win thanks to that fear. They play sophisticated psychological games that we are unprepared for.
