Renowned American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum delivered a powerful message about the dangers of appeasement during her acceptance speech for the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. Speaking in Frankfurt, Germany, Applebaum used her platform to advocate for unwavering support for Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russia’s invasion.
She argued that a call for peace, while seemingly noble, can often mask a dangerous acceptance of aggression. “‘I want peace’ is not always a moral argument,” Applebaum declared, drawing parallels to the history of Germany. She pointed out that the “lesson of German history” is not necessarily pacifism but rather the understanding that succumbing to demands for appeasement in the face of a dictatorial regime can lead to its acceptance and even its expansion. “On the contrary, we have known for nearly a century that a demand for pacifism in the face of an aggressive, advancing dictatorship can simply represent the appeasement and acceptance of that dictatorship.”
Applebaum argued that a true understanding of German history compels a responsibility to stand up for freedom, even if it means taking risks. “If there is even a small chance that military defeat could help end this horrific cult of violence in Russia, just as military defeat once brought an end to the cult of violence in Germany, we should take it,” she said.
Following the logic of pacifism to its extreme, Applebaum argued, would mean accepting the conquest of Ukraine, the destruction of its culture, the establishment of concentration camps, and the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.
Her words carry significant weight, considering her extensive work on totalitarianism in Eastern Europe. Applebaum is the author of several books that explore the darkest aspects of Soviet and Russian history, including “The Gulag,” “The Iron Curtain,” and “Red Famine,” about dictator Joseph Stalin’s brutal policies in Ukraine. Her latest book, “Autocracy, Inc. The Dictators Who Want to Run the World,” examines the global rise of authoritarianism.
Applebaum’s powerful message resonates deeply in the current context of the war in Ukraine. It serves as a reminder that true peace cannot be achieved through silence or complacency in the face of aggression. Her call for continued support of Ukraine, grounded in historical context and a firm understanding of the dangers of appeasement, underscores the importance of vigilance and unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarianism.