Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

The philosopher Karen Stenner argues that some individuals have an authoritarian predisposition. According to the theory, these are “people who cannot tolerate complexity” and “there is nothing intrinsically ‘left-wing’ or ‘right-wing’ about this instinct at all. It is anti-pluralist. It is suspicious of people with different ideas. It is allergic to fierce debates” (16). People with this predisposition are more likely to be receptive to authoritarian ideas.

Short for “British exit,” Brexit was an extremely controversial political campaign to have the United Kingdom exit the European Union, an economic and political union of 27 European nations. It truly began with a referendum held on June 2016, in which a majority of the British public (although mostly in England) voted to leave the European Union. It was supported by Britain’s conservative Tory Party and the UK Independence Party. Its most prominent supporters have included prime ministers Teresa May and Boris Johnson. Applebaum argues Brexit and its supporters have an agenda that extends beyond just leaving the European Union, such as limiting the powers of British courts, defunding the BBC, and purging civil servants (103-04).