Anne Applebaum talks to Julia Gillard

Gone are the days when just one bad guy ran an autocracy; now, sophisticated networks prop up autocratic leaders and encourage a move away from democracy. Pulitzer-winning historian and journalist Anne Applebaum (Gulag) has tracked the slide away from democracy for decades.

From Russia to North Korea and Syria, she takes us on a tour of The Dictators Who Want to Run the World, and explains how autocracies operate like giant companies, relying on financial structures, security services and technological experts providing surveillance, propaganda and disinformation. An essential event if you’re interested in what the future looks like for our governments.

Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be remembered for being the first woman in the role in that country’s history, but even more so for her misogyny speech to parliament, in which she called out politician Tony Abbott for his hypocrisy and sexism.

This event will be recorded live for Julia Gillard’s podcast, A Podcast of One’s Own.