'The fall of any dictator reflects badly on all autocracies'

Journalist and author Anne Applebaum joins Trevor Phillips to discuss the network of authoritarian states and the issues they pose for the West.

It comes after the Assad regime which ruled over Syria was toppled by rebel forces.

Ms Applebaum says, "the fall of Assad as a blow to the alliance [of Russia, China, Iran etc] - it may mean Putin doubles down on his war in Ukraine."

#china #russia #syria

[thinktwice-meie]

Anne Applebaum is always an inspiration

[rifleman]

Anne Applebaum is always clever, knowledgeable and well-spoken. A pleasure to listen to. 🇨🇦

[ericyuen]

Simply, what people learn about history is that Wilson Churchill insisted on fighting instead of making a peace deal with evil during WW2.

[bethfraser]

Anne Applebaum is such an important voice - now esp and always!

[Queen.lizard.]

It’s Clear that NATO Needs to Grow a Pair.

[pieterhilvering]

I read her book. It is excellent, intelligent, measured and an eye-opener.

[stephenoneill]

Russia is doubling down on Ukraine because Putin is focussed only on improving his position in the forthcoming negotiations with Tramp. That's his only priority to keep his regime viable. Syria was unfortunate and certainly a blow to African influence, BRICs credibility and perhaps one less ace in hand, but the negotiations are his sole interest because he urgently needs a break to rescue his spiralling economy. Russia is already holding seminars for regional govenors on how to sell the results of the negotiations as a victory for Putin.

[Alstigen]

Applebaum is one of the very best analysts. It's worthwhile to pay close attention to her observations.

[Andygb]

All autocracies reflect badly on autocracies.

[TheSkaffen]

Liberal Democracy - 20% support
Authoritarian Dictatorship - 80% support.
Something wrong here.

[joeferreti]

Putin already tripled down for 3 years now without achieving much.

[edwardfowle]

I just love Anne! I wish more people would listen to her words and warnings about the evils closing in on Democracies. It's a difficult struggle, and with the election of Trump, it will be even more difficult.

[philosopherking]

Unlike most, and I do mean MOST, experts, who are interviewed on Russian affairs, Anne Applebaum’s answers are always well-thought out and nuanced, and never easy clichés or conventional points like Jill Doherty would say.

[bumberClart]

‘Get up stand up stand up for your rights, get up stand up don’t give up the fight’ Bob Marley 🎶

[michaeljennings]

They literally just put Al Qaeda back in power in Syria 😂😂

[a.brekkan]

One dictator fell but why is Ms Applebaum so certain that there will not be another one in Damascus very soon?

[acm]

Ask her about our great democratic allies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc, etc 😂

[Polans-gd]

I recommend reading the book "Letters from Russia. Russia in 1839.” Author Astolphe de Custine describes russian despotism, for example: 'This society of automats/robots is like half a game of chess, because one man moves all the pieces, and the invisible opponent is humanity. Everyone here moves and breathes only with the emperor's permission or at his command, so everyone is gloomy and restrained: silence presides over life and paralyzes it." Almost 200 years have passed, and russia and russians are still the same. Nothing has changed.

“Russians are a people who hate freedom, love slavery, love shackles on their hands and feet, dirty physically and morally. Ready to crush everyone and everything at any time.” Ivan Shmelyov - Russian writer.

“If I fall asleep and wake up in a hundred years, and someone asks me what's going on in Russia now, I'll answer: they drink and steal.” Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin - Russian writer.

“Russia manages to find only humiliation everywhere” Alexander Nezvorov

[paulman]

"autocracies", also known as dictatorships.

[tkm-dr]

In a geopolitical sense, the US led alliance can be viewed as an autocracy. 😊😊