How To Academy Podcast Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum - The Dictators Who Want to Run the World
Aug 6, 2024
Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, joins Luke Harding for a deep dive into the rise of global autocracies. They discuss how sophisticated networks among rogue states like Russia and China are using technology for control and propaganda. Applebaum reveals the dangers of misinformation, especially during crises like the Ukraine invasion. The duo also explores the resilience of democracies, offering insights on how citizens can combat authoritarianism and uphold democratic values amidst rising threats.
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Propaganda Crosses Borders And Platforms
- Authoritarian propaganda is now coordinated and amplified across regimes and local partners worldwide.
- False narratives (e.g., biolab claims) spread through state media and Western influencers, shaping public belief.
The Biolab Myth Spread Globally
- At the war's start Russian officials claimed the US built biological weapons in Ukraine and many outlets repeated it.
- That myth reached tens of millions and left 25–30% of Americans believing it.
Shared Narratives Make Strange Allies
- Western extremist voices sometimes echo autocratic narratives because interests and messages align.
- Autocrats amplify domestic extremists and seek allies who undermine international institutions.