Where Western Leaders Went Wrong

In this episode of The Brian Lehrer Show, Yale political scientist Ian Shapiro discusses his new book, *After the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World*, which traces the decline of democratic optimism from the euphoric end of the Cold War in 1989 to the populist upheavals of 2016. Shapiro argues that Western leaders—across both parties and administrations—made critical, avoidable choices that eroded trust in democracy. He highlights NATO expansion into Eastern Europe as a pivotal misstep that alienated Russia, despite early cooperation from Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, and criticizes the failure to follow Nixon’s and Kennan’s advice to integrate Russia through economic aid and security partnerships. He also examines how Democratic leaders, particularly Obama, engaged in 'preemptive capitulation' by adopting neoliberal economic policies, which exacerbated inequality and left working-class voters vulnerable to populist appeals. The financial crisis of 2008 further exposed this failure, as Wall Street was bailed out while Main Street was neglected. Shapiro concludes with cautious hope, pointing to recent reversals of austerity in Europe and the emergence of alternative populist movements that prioritize people over elites.