Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight

TA Mullis
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A 'Dictators v Democrats' program https://tamullis.substack.com/  Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis Patreon: patreon.com/DictatorsvDemocrats Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/vsTNKRvy Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.  From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.  But, there are those who resist.  In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.  We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.

  1. Jun 12

    China, Democracy and Africa's Information Battlefield | Emeka Umejei

    Send us Fan Mail How is China shaping Africa's media landscape? Are Western democracies making strategic mistakes across the continent? And what happens if Africa becomes the next major battleground in the global struggle between democratic and authoritarian models of governance? In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with scholar, journalist, policy analyst and author Emeka Umejei about misinformation, media influence, China-Africa relations and the future of democracy in Africa. Drawing on decades of experience across journalism and academia, Umejei explains how China uses media partnerships, journalist training programmes and influence networks to advance its interests in Africa, while arguing that Western governments often misunderstand both African priorities and their own shortcomings. The conversation explores the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation, the competition between China and the West for influence on the continent, the future of internet freedom, and why Africa's leaders must ultimately take responsibility for building democratic resilience and economic independence. Topics discussed: China's media strategy in AfricaMisinformation and AI-generated propagandaThe future of democracy across the continentDigital sovereignty and internet fragmentationJournalism, accountability and democratic cultureWhy Western policymakers misunderstand AfricaChina's economic influence and African manufacturingFreedom, human dignity and political pluralismGuest: Emeka Umejei is an academic, journalist, policy analyst and entrepreneur whose work focuses on journalism studies, misinformation, digital rights, data governance, China-Africa relations and the future of the internet in Africa. He is the author of Chinese Media in Africa: Perception, Performance, and Paradox and China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization. Follow Emeka Umejei Website: Blenders & DealersLatest book: China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and DecolonizationFollow Dictators v Democrats YouTube: @DictatorsvDemocratsX: @TheoAMullisSubstack: tamullis.substack.comDemocracy is non-negotiable. Support the show

    54 min

  2. May 29

    Bellingcat Founder Eliot Higgins on Truth, Disinformation & Democracy

    Send us Fan Mail From identifying the suspects behind the Salisbury poisonings to exposing Russian involvement in MH17, Eliot Higgins helped pioneer a new era of open-source investigation. But in a world of algorithms, conspiracy theories, AI-generated content and collapsing trust, can truth still hold power? In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we sit down with the founder of Bellingcat to discuss how a man with no formal journalism background built one of the world's most influential investigative organisations from his home in Leicester. They explore the origins of Bellingcat, the MH17 investigation, information warfare, social media radicalisation, AI-generated misinformation, and why Higgins believes democracy depends on three pillars: verification, deliberation and accountability. This is a conversation about truth, power, technology, and the future of democracy itself.  Topics Covered  The birth of Bellingcat and open-source intelligence  Investigating MH17 and Russian disinformation  Online radicalisation and conspiracy theories  Social media algorithms and democratic decline  AI, deepfakes and the future of verification  Why trust in institutions is collapsing  How democracy can survive the digital age  Advice for the next generation of investigative journalistsSupport the show

    57 min

  3. May 22

    Europe Must Prepare for War | General Dominique Trinquand | Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight

    Send us Fan Mail  This week on Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We sit down with former French General Dominique Trinquand — one of Europe’s leading military voices on NATO, Russia, Ukraine and the future of European defence.  Drawing on decades of experience in NATO, the United Nations, the Balkans and Lebanon, General Trinquand explains why Europe is rapidly rearming, whether NATO can survive a weakening American commitment, and why he believes Europeans must prepare to defend themselves independently. The conversation explores:  Europe’s military weaknesses after decades of underinvestment  Lessons Western armies are learning from Ukraine  France’s long-standing push for strategic independence from the United States  The future of NATO and whether a “European army” is realistic  Germany’s evolving role in European defence  Drone warfare, AI and the transformation of modern combat  Putin, Trump and the pressure reshaping Europe  Democracy, national identity and what younger generations are losing faith in General Trinquand also reflects on his family’s history in the French Resistance, his lifelong military service, and why he still believes democracy will endure despite rising authoritarianism. Support the show

    55 min

  4. May 15

    The Power of Nonviolent Resistance | Why We Fight | Amber French-Griette

    Send us Fan Mail  Amber French-Griette — co-founder and Executive Director of the Organization for Nonviolent Movements — joins Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight to explain why nonviolent resistance remains one of the most powerful weapons against authoritarianism.  From Ukraine’s civic resistance against Russia to the role of strikes, boycotts, social cohesion and information warfare, this conversation explores how ordinary people resist dictators without picking up a weapon.  We discuss wartime civic resistance, hybrid warfare, democratic resilience, social media, and why authoritarian regimes increasingly fear organised citizens as much as military force.  Topics include:  * Nonviolent resistance  * Ukraine and civic resilience  * Fighting authoritarianism  * Information warfare  * Democracy and freedom  * Hybrid war and social media  * Europe’s defence challenges  Support the show

    49 min

  5. May 8

    Steven Moore on Faith, Freedom & Ukraine | Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight

    Send us Fan Mail Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, joins Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight to discuss the war in Ukraine, Russian propaganda, faith under occupation, and why freedom remains worth fighting for. A former Republican congressional chief of staff who arrived in Ukraine days after the full-scale invasion, Moore reflects on frontline aid work, the persecution of religious communities in occupied territories, divisions within American conservatism over Ukraine, and the wider struggle between democracies and authoritarian states. Topics include:  Russian religious persecution in occupied Ukraine  American conservative attitudes towards Ukraine  The role of faith during wartime  Tucker Carlson, propaganda and the information war  Europe, security and rearmament  Freedom, democracy and political violence  The global axis of authoritarian powersSupport the show

    1h 15m

  6. May 1

    Roger McNair - Project Jinn and Reforming Democracy in the UK

    Send us Fan Mail We are joined by Roger McNair, founder of Project Jinn, to examine the growing crisis of confidence in British democracy and the case for reform. McNair argues that the current system—built around elections every five years—is no longer sufficient for a politically aware and connected population. He sets out a vision for a more direct, participatory model, where citizens have a meaningful say on key issues between elections. Drawing on his journey across all 76 UK cities, he describes a country marked by deep disillusionment with politics, but not without hope. The episode also confronts harder questions about truth, division, and whether democratic systems can function when citizens no longer share a common understanding of reality. 🔑 Topics covered Collapse of public trust in politicians and institutionsThe limits of representative democracyDirect democracy and the Swiss/Liechtenstein modelsProject Jinn’s mission and structureInsights from a nationwide tour of the UKPublic disengagement vs latent political opinionsMedia trust, misinformation, and foreign interferenceTruth vs perspective in political debateInclusion of anti-democratic viewpointsThe emotional state of the country: disconnection, fatigue, and underlying goodwillAt its core: if democracy is no longer delivering for the public, what should replace it—and how can it be rebuilt? Support the show

    53 min

  7. Apr 23

    Jason Pack on Disorder, Institutional Failure and Why Democracy is Still Worth Fighting For

    Send us Fan Mail Jason Pack, host of the Disorder podcast, joins Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight to discuss his idea of “enduring disorder” — a world where democracies struggle to coordinate, institutions fail to deliver, and power is increasingly fragmented. The conversation looks at what that means in practice: from Libya and Ukraine to British politics and the failures of Western leadership What we cover  What Pack means by “enduring disorder” — and why he thinks the post–Cold War system has broken down  Why democracies are struggling to coordinate on major issues like climate, security and technology  Libya as a case study in how international cooperation fails  The rise of “disorder actors” — from authoritarian states to populist movements within democracies  Whether democracy still offers anything tangible to ordinary people  Why belief in democratic values may be weakening, even in the UK and US  The role of money, media and private power in shaping modern politics  Why people in stable democracies often care less about democracy than those who’ve lived under dictatorship  Pack’s personal reasons for defending democratic systems Key questions  If the system is breaking down, what is democracy actually delivering?  Are people turning away from democracy — or just losing faith in it?  Who benefits from disorder: democracies or dictatorships?  Can democratic systems adapt to an age of social media, AI and fragmented power? Follow Jason's work  Podcast: Disorder podcast Book: Libya and the Global Enduring DisorderSupport the show

    1h 2m

  8. Apr 17

    Chechen Prime Minister in Exile Akhmed Zakayev on War, Resistance, and Russia

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Why We Fight, I speak with Akhmed Zakayev, the exiled Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Zakayev lays out his case that Chechnya remains under Russian occupation, describing life inside the republic as lawless and repressive, and arguing that the Chechen struggle is not a recent conflict but part of a centuries-long resistance to Russian imperialism. We discuss the legacy of the Chechen wars, the role of Russian propaganda in shaping Western perceptions, and why Zakayev believes those wars were the prelude to Russia’s invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. He also explains how a government in exile operates, how Chechens abroad maintain ties to those at home, and why he believes independence is essential for the survival of the Chechen people. The conversation explores Chechen culture, its emphasis on honour and equality, and what freedom and democracy mean from a Chechen perspective. Zakayev also makes a broader argument: that lasting global security depends on the end of Russian imperialism. This is a rare, in-depth interview with one of the most prominent figures in the Chechen independence movement—on history, identity, and the future of a nation still fighting to exist. Support the show

    27 min
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About

A 'Dictators v Democrats' program https://tamullis.substack.com/  Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis Patreon: patreon.com/DictatorsvDemocrats Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/vsTNKRvy Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.  From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.  But, there are those who resist.  In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.  We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.

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