Resisting Appeasement: The Dangers of Doing Deals with Dictators

The February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has shocked and saddened people around the world. As outrage now turns to analysis, many people are asking whether Western governments appeased Putin – and his aggressive brand of authoritarianism – and should have adopted a tougher position earlier on. Wasn’t Putin’s repression of his own people, including the assassination of political opponents, enough of a signal that he had no respect for human rights? Wasn’t the annexation of Crimea and the prior invasions of Georgia and Donbas evidence that he had little respect for territorial integrity? Should world leaders aim to adopt stronger positions and leverage to deter such abuses in the future? Many democratic activists operating under authoritarian rule in Africa are asking themselves the same questions about their own leaders. Ignoring or otherwise condoning territorial transgressions by authoritarian rulers in the Great Lakes region and in the Horn of Africa has achieved what in practice? What have diplomatic deals with dictators, often in the name of short-term stability, done to improve respect for human rights? Why does the international community seem to think that turning a blind eye to the harassment and killing of opposition supporters will do anything other than embolden authoritarian rule? This discussion will bring together thought leaders from Africa, and experts on Russia and Eastern Europe, to discuss these timely issues. In doing so, we will seek answers as to how the world’s authoritarian leaders can be effectively prevented from exporting their repression.