2023-08-08 12:16:54
Are democracies in danger? In “Le pacte des autocrates”, the journalist from Le Monde Isabelle Mandraud indicates the existence of an unwritten agreement between the various autocrats of the planet. Their objective is to “weaken and destabilize democracies”, she analyzes on the airwaves of RTS.
Russia, China, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Venezuela, India… Today, 70% of the inhabitants of the planet live under an autocracy, compared to 40% in 2011, estimates Isabelle Mandraud Tuesday in La Matinale de la RTS. “Autocratic governments often adorn themselves with the attributes of democracies, but they do not use them. They claim to represent the people, but their common point is to deprive the people of their decision-making power”, she notes.
Opposing and imposing oneself against democracies
The journalist from Le Monde and co-author with political scientist Julien Théron of the book “Le pacte des autocrates” evokes an “implicit pact” between dictatorial regimes to “weaken and destabilize democracies”. “Autocracies want to replace the international order as it has existed since the post-war period and which dominates international relations today,” she says.
From the United Nations to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) via international summits, autocracies “coordinate” to vote together on resolutions and impose their point of view. Isabelle Mandraud recalls that China and Russia manage, for example, to “paralyze” the UN Security Council.
“According to them, democracies are a bit annoying: they always demand accountability for human rights, demand transparent elections… (…) The more autocracies there are, the more they will be able to play on international relations “, she indicates.
Summit of Samarkand, cradle of an alliance
“The pact of autocrats” returns in particular to the “crucial” summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Samarkand in Uzbekistan in September 2022, where these countries displayed their common ambitions.
Created in 1996 as the Shanghai Group, before becoming the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2001, this body, created by Russia, China and four of the five former Soviet Republics in Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) in order to stabilize a region upset by the dislocation of the Soviet Union, “is constantly expanding”, explains Isabelle Mandraud.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in September 2022, a third of the participants were already under international sanctions for aggression or human rights abuses
Isabelle Mandraud, journalist at Le Monde and co-author of the book “Le pacte des autocrates”
The Indian and Pakistani enemy brothers joined in 2017, Iran was admitted to it during this new summit. Two countries are entering it with observer status, Belarus and Mongolia, and three others, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have become “dialogue partners”.
“In this summit, a third of the participants were already under international sanctions for aggression or human rights abuses,” recalls the journalist from Le Monde.
Africa, Latin America and Central Asia, lands of influence
However, autocracies can be in competition. The Russian and Chinese presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, in particular, covet the same African or Latin American countries where they wish to extend and consolidate their influence, always to counter the West. “Their presence is really very impressive and continues to expand,” says Isabelle Mandraud.
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And to develop: “In Africa, the Russian mercenaries of Wagner have invested up to 31 States”, she indicates. “China is not to be outdone with its mega-investment plans, which are part of the Silk Roads, and by imposing a debt program on the countries concerned. In Latin America, 21 countries have committed themselves to the Chinese investment mega-projects and, until very recently, Russia was selling arms to the continent.”
Even though Russia is weakened by the war in Ukraine and more dependent on China, the two countries still have a common interest. (…) For now, they are well coordinated
Isabelle Mandraud, journalist at Le Monde and co-author of the book “Le pacte des autocrates”
The “greatest field of confrontation” could now move to Central Asia, the former Soviet republics. “This land, which was called Russia’s backyard, is coveted by China. Even though Russia is weakened by the war in Ukraine and more dependent on China, the two countries still have a common interest. (…) For the moment, they are well coordinated.”
The most formidable weapon of autocracies, according to Isabelle Mandraud, is “malicious disinformation”. “The EU started to fight it, but very late. (…) The autocracies play a lot on immigration, which has been identified as a weak point of the European Union. (…) The union of the EU in the face of sanctions against Russia was a great disappointment for Putin, despite many attempts to break this unity.”
Interview by Aleksandra Planinic
Adaptation web: Valentin Jordil
“The Autocrats’ Pact“, Isabelle Mandraud and Julien Théron, Editions Robert Laffont, 216 pages
1691499273
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