Foreign agents : how American lobbyists and lawmakers threaten democracy around the world / Casey Michel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Michel, Casey, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Manafort, Paul J., Jr--Influence.

Manafort, Paul J.

Lee, Ivy L. (Ivy Ledbetter), 1877-1934--Influence.

Lee, Ivy L.

United States. Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

United States.

Foreign agents--United States.

Foreign agents.

Lobbying--Law and legislation--United States.

Lobbying.

Disclosure of information--Law and legislation--United States.

Disclosure of information.

United States--Foreign relations.

Physical Description:

x, 349 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : St. Martin's Press, [2024]

Summary:

"A stunning investigation and indictment of the elements in United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat they pose to democracy. For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, journalist Casey Michel contends some of them have begun turning their sights on American democracy itself. These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and many of them spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous, repressive regimes in the process. These lobbyists include figures like Ivy Lee, the inventor of the public relations industry - a man who whitewashed Mussolini, opened doors to the Soviets, and advised the Nazis on how to sway American audiences. They include people like Paul Manafort, who invented lobbying as we know it - and who then took his talents to autocrats from Ukraine to the Philippines, and then back to the White House. And they now include an increasing number of Americans elsewhere: in law firms and consultancies, among PR specialists and former lawmakers, and even within think tanks and universities. Many of these lobbyists have transformed into proxies for dictators and strongmen wherever they can be found. And for years, they've escaped scrutiny. In Foreign Agents, Casey Michel shines a light on these foreign lobbyists, and all the damage and devastation they have caused in Washington and elsewhere. From Moscow to Beijing, from far-right nationalists to far-left communists, from anti-American autocrats to pro-Western authoritarians, these foreign lobbyists have helped any illiberal, anti-democratic government they can find. And after decades of success in installing dictator after dictator, and in tilting American policy in the process, some of these lobbyists have now begun trying to end America's democratic experiment, once and for all"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part 1. Poison. Dire consequences

What is a fact?

Master of publicity

Broken

Part 2. Monsters. Secret handshake

Wise men

Excess is best

Shame is for sissies

Part 3. Revolutions. Safe for dictatorship

Ukrainian cocktails

Blood money

Not for profit

Part 4. Insurrections. Pot of gold

Black hole

You're fucked

The republic Itself is at risk

Mr. Lee's publicity book.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-338) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Michel, Casey. Foreign agents

ISBN:

9781250286055

1250286050

OCLC:

1393205120