KQED's Forum Michael McFaul on the Threat of Autocracy at Home and Abroad
Nov 12, 2025
Michael McFaul, a political science professor and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, shares his insights on the rise of autocracy in both Russia and America. He discusses Putin's ideological drive and the dangers it poses to NATO. McFaul argues that U.S. polarization feeds autocrats, weakening democracy globally. He addresses the implications of sanctions against Russia and warns about the potential for conflict over Taiwan, drawing parallels between current political dynamics and historical threats to democracy.
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Apply Sanctions As Persistent Pressure
- Keep ratcheting sanctions to incrementally raise the cost of Russia's war and restrict access to money and technology.
- Treat sanctions as recurring pressure, not one-off measures.
Different Lenses On World Order
- President Trump frames leaders as 'strong' versus 'weak' rather than autocrat versus democrat, altering U.S. signals.
- That personalist lens complicates alliances and democratic-versus-autocratic alignment.
Domestic Polarization Helps Autocrats Abroad
- U.S. polarization and events like January 6 empower autocrats by discrediting American democratic example.
- Domestic division undermines global leadership and demoralizes pro-democracy actors abroad.
