Making Sense of it All with Anne Applebaum

February 14, 2025

Making Sense of it All with Anne Applebaum

Borja Alegre - The Atlantic, 2020

In the latest episode of, #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, titled #MakingSenseofitAll Part 1,” we delve deeply into the intertwined narratives of history, politics, and personal experiences in the thought provoking essay, #HistorywillJudgetheComplicit by Pulitzer prize winning historian and author, #AnneApplebaum originally published in the#Atlantic in 2020

I began this episode following a month spent in New Zealand with my family, where the clarity gained from disconnecting from the constant barrage of news was a welcome reprieve. Upon returning to Canada, I found an intense political atmosphere marked by significant changes, in the wake of Trump’s ascendancy.

Mysteriously, as soon as I re-connected to the Internet, Applebaum's essay appeared at the top of my news feed. I initially didn't realize it had been published in 2020, and I began to read...

#HistoryWillJudgetheComplicit” serves as a lens through which we can examine the behavior of individuals who support authoritarian figures against their previously espoused democratic values. Applebaum emphasizes the complexity of individual motivations behind this support, urging us to look beyond surface-level judgments. She argues that understanding why individuals align with such counterproductive ideologies requires examining their personal histories and their justifications for abandoning in a changing political environment.

The essay begins with a narrative account of the journeys of two individuals from East Germany, Wolfgang Leonhard and Marcus Wolf. Despite sharing similar beginnings in the Communist system, each took opposing paths when confronted with the values and realities of their regime. Their divergent choices provide a backdrop against which we can examine the broader themes of complicity and collaboration. Applebaum emphasizes the psychological mechanisms at play, explaining how ordinary people can gradually normalize corrupt ideals, culminating in a collective blindness to injustice.

Applebaum asks us to confront crucial questions like: Why do well-educated individuals, often perceived as thoughtful and principled, fall into complicity with ideologies that contradict their long-held moral convictions? By drawing on extensive research from history, psychology, and political science, she offers a critical examination of the forces that compel people to remain silent or even confer legitimacy on behaviors that initially made them uncomfortable.

Readers and listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own thoughts about political loyalty and societal norms. The conversation points to the importance of self-awareness in discerning the fine line between collaboration for perceived stability and the active engagement that champions democracy and human rights.

As the episode winds down, I urge listeners to take an introspective journey, considering the role each person plays in either upholding or challenging the structures of power, particularly as Canada navigates its future in a politically charged environment. The episode closes with a thought-provoking reminder of the importance of being an informed citizen, where understanding the intricacies of history may empower individuals to act decisively in their contemporary political landscape.

Making Sense of it All - Part 2

In part 2, Applebaum highlights the phenomenon of the effectiveness trap—where being in proximity to power can lead to a willingness to accept unethical behavior. She draws parallels with figures from the Trump administration, who, by staying silent, have inadvertently validated its harmful policies. This creates a perpetual cycle of complicity that former officials and the public alike must grapple with. It highlights how fear and the seductive nature of power can cloud moral judgment, making it difficult for individuals to resist participating in a corrupt system.

Throughout the episode, Applebaum poses thought-provoking questions about our societal norms and the limits of righteousness within our political framework. The sentiments resonate deeply, as they shine a light on the human propensity to compromise principles under pressure and the long-term ramifications this can have on democracy. Historical events serve as beacons for the current political landscape, illustrating how societal complacency can open the door to tyranny and dysfunction with lasting consequences.

Applebaum doesn't shy away from suggesting that courage can be cultivated through the decisions we make daily, using the story of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman as an example. Vindman, a prominent witness during the impeachment hearings of #DonaldTrump and his testimony against unlawful actions, demonstrated a stark contrast to the silence of many of his contemporaries within the administration. Applebaum emphasizes that while some choose to remain quiet out of fear of consequence, leadership involves standing firm and speaking truth in the face of personal risk ...Some might call this honour.

In a broader context, Applebaum juxtaposes America’s political struggle with historical totalitarian regimes where silent complicity thrived until it was nearly too late for any dissenters. Drawing these historical correlations is not merely an academic exercise but a rallying cry for the present. It urges us all to remain vigilant, evaluate our own positions, and remember the weight of history as we navigate through a periods of uncertainty here in Canada as well as abroad.

Applebaum reminds us of the essential core of character and decency needed in leadership, when she poses the question: What will history say about our choices in these tumultuous times? The dialogues crystallized in this episode of "For What It's Worth" serve as a critical reminder that, while history will indeed judge the complicit, it also opens the door for moral awakening, patriotism and civic responsibility. Small acts of courage serve as the seeds of resistance, leading the charge against corrupt systems. ... Please share these two episodes with anyone that believes in democracy ....For What it's Worth