Masha Gessen with Philippe Sands: Facing Down President Putin

Promoting their new book Surviving Autocracy, Russian-American author and journalist, and peerless chronicler of totalitarianism and dissent, Masha Gessen made a surprising declaration: that by the middle of 2020 it seems clear that Trump might be worse than Putin.

‘Putin is somewhat less cynical… he [believes he] is doing it for his country. Trump doesn’t even have that delusion. It’s all power and money in their purest form. And you could dig as deep as you want, you would never find a shred of responsibility.’

Cynicism and responsibility, autocracy and repression, the destruction of the social contract and democratic institutions, Gessen has spent their career arguing for the necessity of protest and resistance. In conversation with award-winning author, QC and Professor of Law Philippe Sands, Gessen reflects on truth and lies, power and corruption, and where 2020 might lead us.

This is a pre-recorded event.

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Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024 Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024
Sunday 14 April

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