Anne Applebaum quotes

Anne Applebaum is an American journalist, historian, and author known for her writings on Eastern Europe and authoritarianism. Her work has illuminated the complexities of communism, totalitarianism, and the post-Soviet world. She continues to influence debates on democracy, history, and global politics. Here are 11 of her quotes:

We may be reaching the end of the liberal world order.

Anne Applebaum

Unlike most European countries, the police in the US are decentralized; even the FBI has regional offices. Amending the constitution is a long and tedious process.

Anne Applebaum

Polarization is normal. Skepticism about liberal democracy is normal. And the appeal of authoritarianism is eternal.

Anne Applebaum

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

Anne Applebaum

The Russian economy is about the size of the Italian economy; it's very small, and Russia's military force is larger than it was, because Putin's been investing in it, but it still doesn't compare to that of the United States, and his reach and aim still don't compare.

Anne Applebaum

The evolution of a bourgeoisie is a healthy phenomenon when it grows and prospers thanks to bourgeois values: hard work, honesty, personal responsibility.

Anne Applebaum

The surge in right-wing populism and the phenomenon of Trump are related. You can think of them together as the same problem.

Anne Applebaum

Putin is not a mass murderer. But, having said that, he is a product of the KGB, and the KGB was, of course, the secret police force of the Soviet Union.

Anne Applebaum

Before joining NATO, each country had to establish civilian control of its army. Before joining the European Union, each adopted laws on trade, judiciary, human rights. As a result, they became democracies. This was "democracy promotion” working as it never has before or since.

Anne Applebaum