Strongmen (Paperback)
How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall
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A leading academic exposes the historical and cultural contexts which allow political strongmen to thrive
Ours is the age of the strongman. Russia, India, Turkey and America are ruled by men who, as they have risen to the top, have reshaped their countries around them, creating cults of personality which earn the loyalty of millions. And as they do so, they draw on a playbook of behaviour established by figures such as Benito Mussolini, Muammar Gaddafi and Adolf Hitler.
Here, political historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat draws on analysis of everything from gender and sexuality to diplomatic strategy to explain who these political figures are - and how they manipulate our own history, fears and desires in search of power at any cost.
Strongmen (Ebook)
How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall
Buy from
A leading academic exposes the historical and cultural contexts which allow political strongmen to thrive
'A gripping and illuminating picture of how strongmen have deployed violence, seduction, and corruption' Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of How Democracies Die
'A timely analysis of how a certain kind of charisma delivers political disaster' Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny
Ours is the age of the strongman. Countries from Russia to India, Turkey to America are ruled by men who combine populist appeal with authoritarian policy. They have reshaped their countries around them, creating cults of personality which earn the loyalty of millions. And they do so by drawing on a playbook of behaviour established by figures such as Benito Mussolini, Muammar Gaddafi and Adolf Hitler. So why - despite the evidence of history - do strongmen still hold such appeal for us?
Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat draws on analysis of everything from gender to corruption and propaganda to explain who these political figures are - and how they manipulate our own history, fears and desires in search of power at any cost. Strongmen is a fierce and perceptive history, and a vital step in understanding how to combat the forces which seek to derail democracy and seize our rights.
Strongmen (Audiobook)
How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall
Buy from
A leading academic exposes the historical and cultural contexts which allow political strongmen to thrive
Ours is the age of the strongman. Russia, India, Turkey and America are ruled by men who, as they have risen to the top, have reshaped their countries around them, creating cults of personality which earn the loyalty of millions. And as they do so, they draw on a playbook of behaviour established by figures such as Benito Mussolini, Muammar Gaddafi and Adolf Hitler.
Here, political historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat draws on analysis of everything from gender and sexuality to diplomatic strategy to explain who these political figures are – and how they manipulate our own history, fears and desires in search of power at any cost.
Strongmen (Paperback)
How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall
Buy from
A leading academic exposes the historical and cultural contexts which allow political strongmen to thrive
'A gripping and illuminating picture of how strongmen have deployed violence, seduction, and corruption' Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of How Democracies Die
'A timely analysis of how a certain kind of charisma delivers political disaster' Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny
Ours is the age of the strongman. Countries from Russia to India, Turkey to America are ruled by men who combine populist appeal with authoritarian policy. They have reshaped their countries around them, creating cults of personality which earn the loyalty of millions. And they do so by drawing on a playbook of behaviour established by figures such as Benito Mussolini, Muammar Gaddafi and Adolf Hitler. So why - despite the evidence of history - do strongmen still hold such appeal for us?
Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat draws on analysis of everything from gender to corruption and propaganda to explain who these political figures are - and how they manipulate our own history, fears and desires in search of power at any cost. Strongmen is a fierce and perceptive history, and a vital step in understanding how to combat the forces which seek to derail democracy and seize our rights.
Reviews for Strongmen
Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny
Sarah Kendzior, author of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America
Daniel Ziblatt, co-author How Democracies Die
Sarah Chayes, author of On Corruption in America: And What Is at Stake and Thieves of State
Joy Connolly, President of the American Council of Learned Societies
Praise for Ruth Ben-Ghiat:
[A] surpassingly brilliant public intellectual...
'
Virginia Heffernan on Slate Trumpcast