' Charles Dunst's deeply researched timely and powerful book offers a blueprint for how
democracies should fight back.' - Sir Kim Darroch 'Remarkable. A thoughtful and perceptive
book.' - Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP The world is currently experiencing the lowest levels of
democracy we have seen in over thirty years. Autocracy is on the rise and while the cost of
autocracy seems evident it nevertheless remains an attractive option to many. While leaders
like Viktor Orbán disrupt democratic foundations from within autocrats like Xi Jinping and
Vladimir Putin do so from abroad eroding democratic institutions and values and imperilling
democracies that appear increasingly fragile. There are even those who disillusioned with the
current institutions in place increasingly think authoritarianism can deliver them a better
life than democracy has or could. They're wrong. Autocracy is not the solution - better
democracy is. But we have to make the case for it. We have to combat institutional rot by
learning from one another and at times from our rivals. And we have to get our own houses in
order. Only then can we effectively stand up for democratic values around the world and defeat
the dictators.
