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Twilight of Democracy: The failure of politics and the parting of friends by Anne Applebaum

by
October 2020, no. 425

Twilight of Democracy: The failure of politics and the parting of friends by Anne Applebaum

Allen Lane, $35 hb, 205 pp

Twilight of Democracy: The failure of politics and the parting of friends by Anne Applebaum

by
October 2020, no. 425

‘Our age,’ begins the epigraph to Anne Applebaum’s book Twilight of Democracy, ‘is indeed the age of the intellectual organization of political hatreds.’ This disarming quote from French writer Julien Benda dates back to 1927; how little has changed in a century. Just one generation after the triumphant ‘end of history’ – and notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19, fleetingly referenced here – Western democratic societies are prey to institutional decline, increasing distrust, violence, and hatred.

Applebaum’s exploration of these changes revolves around two parties she hosted for friends in Poland – one in 1999, the other in 2019. Over two decades the friends change, as do the mood, the technology, the topics of conversation, the future prospects. So too the presence, or absence, of solidarity. This use of personal anecdote to illustrate and measure broad geopolitical and ideological shifts is mostly effective. Her friends are drawn almost exclusively from a cast(e) of diplomats, politicians, intellectuals, and editors: undoubtedly influential people, yet there is scarcely an opinion floated that does not come from this rarefied air. This is a minor flaw in an otherwise succinct analysis.

Luke Stegemann reviews 'Twilight of Democracy: The failure of politics and the parting of friends' by Anne Applebaum

Twilight of Democracy: The failure of politics and the parting of friends

by Anne Applebaum

Allen Lane, $35 hb, 205 pp

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Comment (1)

  • Thank you Luke, for your inspiring review. We will definitely buy this book, having enjoyed listening to Anne's perspective in various interviews. Whilst her coterie may seem rarified, I can assure you that we are able to relate to her views - and her clear, eloquent expression of them - despite being outside that distinguished circle ourselves. Democracy is indeed in great danger. On this theme I also recommend work by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Rachel Maddow and Sarah Kendzior, just to name a few. Best regards from Louisa John-Krol
    Posted by Louise Krol
    17 January 2024

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