35 pages 1 hour read

Anne Applebaum

Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2020

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Essay Topics

1.

Although democracy is in the book’s title, Appelbaum does not offer a definition of democracy. In your own words, how do you think Appelbaum would define democracy? List the characteristics you think are important to Appelbaum’s ideal democracy.

2.

At several points in Twilight of Democracy, Appelbaum is open about her political beliefs, like describing herself and her guests as free-market liberals (2), mentioning that she wrote for right-wing American publications (159), and identifying with the Republican Party of the United States until 2008 (162). How do you think Appelbaum’s politics impact Twilight of Democracy? Do you think her political bias undermines her main arguments? Why or not?

3.

Throughout Twilight of Democracy, Appelbaum compares diverse right-wing movements and parties, like Vox, Brexit, Fidesz, Law and Justice, and the Trump campaign. List and explain four traits that most, if not all, of these groups and movements have in common, according to Appelbaum.

Related Titles

By Anne Applebaum

Study Guide

logo

Autocracy, Inc.

Anne Applebaum

Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World

Anne Applebaum

Study Guide

logo

Gulag

Anne Applebaum

Gulag: A History

Anne Applebaum