Hoover Institution

“They’re Not Like Us”: Michael McFaul on Autocrats vs. Democrats and the Fight for the 21st Century

Putin and Xi don’t think like we do—and that misread has shaped decades of U.S. policy. Michael McFaul on autocracy, Ukraine, NATO, Taiwan, and why democratic example—not military might—is the real threat to authoritarian regimes. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge to stay notified for the next episode: https://www.hoover.org/publications/uncommon-knowledge?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=uk_description&utm_content=03022026 __________ The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2026 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University. 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions: @HooverInstitution 👍 Like and share this video! 🌐 Follow us on social media: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooverInstStanford • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoover-institution-at-stanford-university • Instagram: https://instagram.com/hooverinstitution • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hooverinstitution • X: https://www.twitter.com/HooverInst