Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

“At that moment, when Poland was on the cusp of joining the West, it felt as if we were all on the same team. We agreed about democracy, about the road to prosperity, about the way we were going. That moment has passed. Nearly two decades later, I would now cross the street to avoid some of the people who were at my New Year’s Eve party. They, in turn, would not only refuse to enter my house, they would be embarrassed to admit they had ever been there. In fact, about half the people who were at that party would no longer speak to the other half.”

As a historian, Applebaum often draws on events and writers from the past, even though Twilight of Democracy is a book about current events. Even though there are significant differences, past experiences like those of Sebastian do help us understand why these trends are happening. They also provide reason to hope that no negative social and political situation is “permanent” (186).

“Given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy. Indeed, if history is anything to go by, all of our societies eventually will.”

Applebaum often compares her own experiences and trends in modern society to past events and individuals. This is just one example of her claim that these trends repeat themselves in history.

“Given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy. Indeed, if history is anything to go by, all of our societies eventually will.”

Applebaum often compares her own experiences and trends in modern society to past events and individuals. This is just one example of her claim that these trends repeat themselves in history.