'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
Today, countries from Russia to India, Turkey to America are ruled by men who combine populist appeal with authoritarian policies. These leaders have reshaped their countries around them, creating cults of personality which earn the loyalty of millions. And, as historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat shows, 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? Ruth Ben-Ghiat reveals how, for a hundred years, charismatic leaders have emerged at moments of uncertainty and transition, manipulating electoral systems, brutally suppressing opposition, gaining control of the media and distorting the imaginations of the people they rule over in pursuit of absolute power.
Authoritarians hold their greatest appeal when society is polarised. Skilfully exposing both the power and the weakness of the strongman, this fierce and perceptive history is a vital step in understanding how to combat the forces which seek to derail democracy and seize our rights.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
With a steady gaze and an eye for the telling detail, Ruth Ben-Ghiat delivers a timely analysis of how a certain kind of charisma delivers political disaster - and some valuable hints about how it can be resisted, and the virtues we will need to rebuild democracy -- Timothy Snyder, author of <i>On Tyranny Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an indispensable resource on authoritarianism, past and present. Everyone who cares about American democracy should read this book -- Sarah Kendzior, author of <i>Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America Ben-Ghiat's portrayal of fascist era tyrants, murderous Cold War dictators, and would-be tyrants in our own day gives us a gripping and illuminating picture of how strongmen have deployed violence, seduction, and corruption. History, Ben-Ghiat shows, offers clear lessons not only about how these regimes are built, but also how they must be opposed, and how they inevitably end -- Daniel Ziblatt, co-author <i>How Democracies Die Simultaneously intimate and sweeping in scope, STRONGMEN brings us in close to dictators and would-be dictators across decades and continents. We are left with a disturbing look in the mirror. Throughout, Ben-Ghiat's clear prose rings with a rhythm and cadence that today's nonfiction too often lacks -- Sarah Chayes, author of <i>On Corruption in America: And What Is at Stake and Thieves of State Deep insight and a vigorous style ... a brilliant contribution to the political psychology of democracy -- Joy Connolly, President of the American Council of Learned Societies Praise for Ruth Ben-Ghiat:
[A] surpassingly brilliant public intellectual... -- Virginia Heffernan on <i>Slate Trumpcast
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Produkt-Hinweis
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 153 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78816-123-7 (9781788161237)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University and a political commentator who has received Guggenheim, Fulbright and other fellowships. An expert on fascism, authoritarian rulers, Donald Trump and propaganda, she has written for or appeared on BBC World News, Washington Post, The New York Times, Sky News, New Yorker and other media outlets.
Autor*in
Professor of Italian and History
