Autocrats vs. Democrats

China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder

By: Michael McFaul

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

"A history, an analysis, and a set of prescriptions for the greatest geopolitical challenge of our time: the threat to the democratic world posed by China and Russia." —Anne Applebaum, author of Autocracy, Inc.

"A monumental account of contemporary geopolitics"—Francis Fukuyama, author of Liberalism and Its Discontents

From New York Times bestselling author and former ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul comes a bold, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat. The rise of China, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended, and a new Cold War has begun. And yet, many of the perils we face today are distinctly different from those we encountered from the Soviet Union. The alliance between the autocracies of China and Russia, China’s economic might, the rise of the far right in the United States and Europe, and the disturbing isolationist foreign policy shifts of the Trump administration—taken together represent new challenges for the democratic world. They are threats with no precedent in the past century.

In this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia over the past three centuries, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA. One of the preeminent thinkers on American foreign policy for decades, McFaul combines in-depth historical analysis with a forward-looking perspective, crafting a new grand strategy for America in this age of global disorder. Acknowledging how Xi’s China, Putin’s Russia, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system, Autocrats vs. Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world, detailing why:

• Russia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.
• China’s capabilities should not be overestimated.
• Trump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.

At once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies, Autocrats vs. Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage.

If the Rule of Three Was a Book ...

This is a book that easily could have been a 12 hour read/listen instead of 20. The author seems to adhere to the old adage of tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you've told them.

However, as I state below, the information in the book bears repeating 100 times if that is what it is required to have people understand how, under current administration policy decades of American (democratic) international engagement, goodwill and economic stability is being ceded to Russia, China and other emerging autocratic leaning emerging economies.

The book is an excellent exploration of the historical importance of democratic international engagement; the real and serious consequences being brought about by the present adminstration's dismantling of and attack upon historical norms and international democratic institutions; and the unmitigated disaster for the American economy and American international standing that will result from these changing dynamics in international engagement with Russia, emerging autocratic regimes and, most importantly, with China, if the present administration continues unchecked with these destructive policies.

The importance of what the author has to share can not be understated. The book should be required reading for every elected leader and international policy maker in the United States.

Very well written and narrated

Written by the former US ambassador to Russia, this book illustrates many of the reasons why Trump‘s disastrous policies will eventually undermine US preeminence. The author does acknowledge several of the US‘s past foreign policy disasters, and illegal and immoral military intervention however he stops short of explaining how these one-sided unilateral decisions helped bring about America’s inevitable demise.

Most repetitive book ever

Many excellent ideas, repeated ad-nauseum. Could have been cut in half without loosing anything important.

Great National Security Expert-Not a Great Writer

A am a fan of Michael McFaul. When interviewed, he is always insightful, fluid, concise and on-point. These qualities do not show themselves in this book. The book is organized around a plodding, in-your-face subject matter outline. Where one stands with respect to a position on the subject matter outline is always clear. The text moves though the outline as if McFaul were writing encyclopedia entries. Only by the time one slogs through to the last few chapters does one realize that there will be no insight or analysis of cause and effect. The book is exhaustively researched and makes a fine reference for the recent history of autocracy in the U.S., China and Russia. It is list-centric. Had it been published on the Web it would consist of long lists of subject matter hyperlinks which, when opened display (sometimes remarkably short) texts covering a narrow topic.

I can only speculate that McFaul's writing style has been shaped by writing hundreds of briefing books. He needs an editor. He also needs to take care that what he says he will accomplish at the beginning of the book, has actually been accomplished by the end of the book. In this book he did not.

McFaul should also consider reading his books himself. Ganswer's voice performance is uneven and highly mannered. Set against the caste iron subject matter outline it becomes annoying.