Twilight Of DemocracyEdit
Twilight of Democracy is a contemporary meditation on the fragility of liberal governance in the face of revived nationalisms, populist energy, and shifting cultural norms. Written by the historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, the book surveys recent political shocks in the United States and across Europe, arguing that democracies have not merely faced external autocrats but have, in important ways, undermined their own legitimacy through elite complacency, globalist projects, and the triumph of technocratic language over civic solidarity. Published in the early 2020s, Twilight of Democracy has shaped debates about how to defend constitutional order, national sovereignty, and shared civic norms without surrendering liberty or pluralism to illiberal temptations. See Anne Applebaum and Twilight of Democracy for the author and the work itself.
Applebaum contends that liberal democracies have fallen into a seduction trap: a philosophy of governance that prizes cosmopolitan solutions, international institutions, and moral self-satisfaction over the hard, sometimes uncomfortable work of sustaining a common national life. This “seduction of liberalism” is not a repudiation of liberal ideals but a belief that unlimited openness—whether in immigration, trade, or cultural critique—will produce harmony. When elites embrace these premises, the book argues, they can alienate ordinary citizens who feel their jobs, communities, and traditions are under pressure. The result, according to Twilight of Democracy, is a legitimacy gap: institutions that are technically powerful but culturally estranged from large swaths of the body politic. See Liberal democracy and Globalization.
The author traces how illiberal currents gain ground from within as much as from without. In Twilight of Democracy, the persistence of strongman politics, stale parts of the public sphere, and the erosion of trust in traditional mediating institutions—such as families, churches, local governments, and national legislatures—create openings for critics who promise a return to order, sovereignty, and national identity. The book also documents how external actors, from Russia and China to other state and nonstate powers, seek to exploit these fissures to widen influence, deepen polarization, and weaken alliances like NATO and the European Union.
From a menu of portraits and episodes, Twilight of Democracy emphasizes the resilience and vulnerability of the national political order. It examines how moments like the Brexit referendum and the rise of populist movements in various democracies refracted into new governance models, often blurring lines between liberal norms and illiberal tactics. Applebaum does not deny the value of civil liberties or the importance of open debate; rather, she argues that unchecked openness, if not matched by a robust civic culture and stronger accountability, can be exploited by actors who use grievance rhetoric to undermine institutions from within. See Populism and Illiberal democracy.
Structure and themes
The seduction and its mechanisms: The work details how cosmopolitan elites, in seeking to demonstrate inclusivity and moral leadership, can misread the concerns of ordinary citizens, thereby providing rhetorical or policy openings for illiberal challengers who claim to defend the nation, the people, or traditional norms. See Civic nationalism and Identity politics.
Institutions and sovereignty: Twilight of Democracy argues that legitimate liberal governance rests on a balance between individual rights and national sovereignty, plus a resilient system of checks and balances. When those checks erode, or when technocratic messaging masks political choices, confidence in democratic rule can wane. See Constitution and National sovereignty.
Media, technology, and culture: The book dedicates attention to how information ecosystems—old and new media, social networks, and elite discourse—shape perceptions of legitimacy, trust, and threat. See Media and Social media.
Case material and transatlantic patterns: Applebaum draws parallels between developments in the United States, Western Europe, and post-Soviet spaces, arguing that shared vulnerabilities—elite discomfort with national borders, the allure of technocratic governance, and the push-pull of cultural change—produce a common political ecology. See United States presidential election, 2016 and Poland; Hungary; Brexit.
Reception and influence
Twilight of Democracy sparked wide-ranging discussions among policymakers, scholars, and pundits. Supporters contend that the book accurately diagnosed a real drift away from popular sovereignty and constitutional discipline, offering a sober framework for repairing legitimacy without abandoning liberal protections. Critics, especially among those who emphasize social justice or more expansive civil rights agendas, argued that Applebaum overemphasizes elite psychology at the expense of concrete economic and social remedies, and that she sometimes equates legitimate grievance with anti-democratic tactics. See Critical theory and Political philosophy.
From a practical policy standpoint, the book has influenced conversations about the resilience of democratic institutions, the legitimate reach of immigration policy, and the need for national conversation about shared values and civic education. Proponents of a stronger, more bounded approach to multiculturalism and immigration—arguing for assimilation and civic belonging without abandoning liberty—cited Twilight of Democracy as a prompt to rethink how to defend sovereignty and rule of law in an interconnected age. See Assimilation and Rule of law.
Controversies and debates
Economic and cultural drivers vs. elite misjudgment: Critics within the broader center-right and center-left camps debate whether the primary danger comes from economic stagnation and policy disappointments or from cultural and identity-based politics. Twilight of Democracy emphasizes elite misjudgment and a collapse of shared civic sentiment, while some critics push back by arguing that economic renewal and policy competence should take priority in countering populist forces. See Economic anxiety.
Illiberal currents and national identity: The work’s argument that illiberal tendencies are aided by a retreat from national civic culture has generated pushback from some who view national identity as inseparable from cultural pluralism. Proponents of open borders and plural civic life argue that inclusive policies strengthen democracy by broadening the base of legitimate authority. See National identity and Civic nationalism.
Woke criticism and its counterpoints: Twilight of Democracy has been the subject of sharp critique from observers who label its emphasis on identity politics as overstated or misapplied. From that perspective, the charge is that focusing on cultural grievance diverts attention from material concerns and can justify aggressive or anti-democratic moves in the name of restoring order. In response, supporters argue that the book does not deny the importance of economic policy or social justice; instead, it contends that illiberal forces exploit grievances to undermine constitutional norms, and that defending liberal democracy requires both policy competence and a robust defense of national cohesion. See Cancel culture and Identity politics.
Worry about technocracy vs. democracy: Critics worry that Twilight of Democracy privileges political struggle over practical governance, potentially glamorizing a sense of crisis. Proponents counter that recognizing structural threats is a prerequisite for effective reform, and that democratic renewal depends on clear limits on executive power, transparent institutions, and a grounded public square. See Democratic reform.
See also