Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight
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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.
Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight
Phil Ittner: The American War Correspondent
Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight — Episode: American War Correspondent Phil Ittner
In this episode, host TA Mullis speaks with Phil Ittner, an American war correspondent with more than two decades of experience covering conflicts around the world — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Georgia and Ukraine. Now based in Kyiv, Ittner discusses the moral and historical battle lines between democracy and authoritarianism that define the 21st century.
Together, they explore journalism’s role in an age of disinformation, the impossibility yet necessity of striving for objectivity, and the philosophical divide between free societies and autocratic ones. Ittner reflects on his years reporting from Moscow during the rise of Vladimir Putin, his time on the front lines of Maidan and the 2022 invasion, and his belief that Ukraine represents a global line in the sand.
The conversation delves into:
- Journalism as a vocation and moral duty
- Why “objectivity” is impossible but essential to pursue
- The failure of Western media to explain Ukraine’s fight and identity
- Russia’s imperial mindset and its parallels with Britain’s colonial past
- How democracy’s greatest strength is its willingness to try, fail, and try again
- The meaning of liberty, individual rights, and participation in shaping society
- Why autocracy always collapses into violence and decay
Ittner closes with a warning to dictators: power without participation always ends in ruin — and a reminder that, despite its flaws, democracy remains humanity’s best hope.
Phil Ittner’s Work:
🎥 On the Edge — YouTube: Phil Ittner
🌐 Website: philipittner.com
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