Ep 7. 2/17/2019

On February 17th, 2019 the special episode of Fareed Zakaria’s GPS explores the state of democracy in the world and the challenges that it faces. The show features interviews with experts in democracy, authoritarianism, and global affairs.

The first segment of the show takes a look at the rise of authoritarianism. Zakaria speaks with Masha Gessen, a journalist and author who focuses on Russia, to understand the tactics used by authoritarian leaders to gain and maintain power. Gessen also discusses the role that technology and social media play in spreading disinformation and undermining democratic systems.

Zakaria then turns his attention to Europe, where democracy is under threat from rising populism and far-right movements. He speaks with Timothy Snyder, a historian and author, about the historical roots of authoritarianism in Europe and how leaders like Putin and Trump take advantage of public fears to sow division and undermine democratic institutions.

The show also looks at the challenges facing democracy in emerging economies like India and Brazil. Zakaria speaks with Ruchir Sharma, an economist who focuses on emerging markets, about the rise of populist leaders in these countries and the impact that they are having on economic growth and democratic institutions.

The episode also features a segment on the role of the media in democracy. Zakaria interviews Jill Abramson, former executive editor of the New York Times, to understand how the media can best serve as a watchdog over those in power and expose corruption and abuses of power.

Throughout the show, Zakaria takes a global perspective on the challenges facing democracy, highlighting the growing divide between democratic countries and authoritarian ones. He also emphasizes the importance of collective action in defending democracy, whether by individual citizens, governments, or non-governmental organizations.

Overall, the special episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS provides a thoughtful and insightful analysis of the state of democracy in the world today. It offers a timely reminder of the importance of defending democratic institutions and the values that underpin them, even in the face of rising authoritarianism and the challenges of the 21st century.