Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Recognizing Signs of Authoritarianism
Published 2023-05-15
From Hungary to India to the United States, liberal democracies are under threat from reactionary populists. With slogans of virality and violence, a new generation of strongmen are coming to power by railing against immigrants, outsiders, and other marginalized groups. NYU historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat argues that there’s nothing new about their tactics and rhetoric. She contends that today’s would-be strongmen are following a template forged by fascists in the early 20th century. She also argues that the only force that can save democracy are the forces that saved it before massive, pro-democratic social movements for justice.
Keywords: Putin, Mussolini, Trump, Netanyahu, liberalism, authoritarianism, social movements, fascism, toxic masculinity, democracy, conservatism.
Professor Ben-Ghiat is the spring 2023 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
BTSS website: manoa.hawaii.edu/speakers/
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Twitter: @uh_btss
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Public lecture: • Strongmen: How Illiberal Leaders Cons...
Sponsored by the Department of American Studies in the College of Arts, Languages & Letters and the William S. Richardson School of Law
All Comments (21)
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Ruth Ben Ghiat is is an important voice for our time on the threat, history and ways to deal with fascism. I am almost finished reading her “Strongmen” and it was good to see her speak as well on video. Everyone should watch her interviews.
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Great interview! Ruth Ben-Ghiat has been warning Americans for a long time now. If you want to understand American and world politics you must listen to this lady. Her book "Strongman" is a masterful work giving a clear understanding of why and how tyrants take over and autocratic governments succeed. The best antidote is for everyone to pay close attention and vote as if your well being is at stake.
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The calmest conversation I've seen regarding politics on Youtube for quite some time. I'll be adding Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat to my reading list.
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What a great conversation, in depth, calm and enlightening. The topic itself is really frightening though. We live in dark times.
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Ruth, I'm gald I found you. Thank you, for doing your part on opening the eyes of the myopic Americans who can't see how dangerous Trump is and his fascist demeanor...
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49:15 "...dictatorships put people to sleep" "What does it mean to be anti-woke? ... They want you to go to sleep, to shut up."
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I love this woman. She is so intelligent and so in tune with what's happening. She's a very important person to have speaking at this time.
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Love Ruth. Everyone must read: "Alpha God" to understand why women support strongmen as the Alpha Male in our primate psychosociology.
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Very informative, really enjoyed the conversation.
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I admire Ruth so much. Thank you very much for airing this for us all to see, so insightful and illuminating
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Fantastic interview, hope you do more.
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You appeal to the greatest number of Americans who are less educated — and the largest part of the population — and you appeal to those who feel disenfranchised such as American workers who lost their jobs as more jobs were automated or rural areas where farms and agriculture were taken over by larger operational corporations. If Trump did not key into this directly due to his abysmal lack of education and reading, his advisors certainly did and used his name recognition and popularity to push those focuses for his political campaigns. These are manipulative tools used by all strongmen and Trump is just another one. The GOP can play all kinds of manipulative political games but their ultimate goal is as much political control as possible.
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I love Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Her fearless and truthful voice is needed more than ever.
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Puyin also decriminalized domestic violence.
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I always appreciate what Ruth Ben-Ghiat has to say. But it's too bad nobody at the University of Hawaii knows how to do a mic check to make sure that we'd be able to hear the moderator's comments and questions.
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Great discussion enlivened by sound scholarship. Thanks UH Manoa!
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WE NEED TO PROMOTE YOUR BOOK ON A GRAND SCALE ... SO WE CAN ALL HAVE TRAINED EYES LOOKING ON .. ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE.....
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Timely
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I just discovered Ruth Ben-Ghiat and she puts the pieces together so well. I will be reading her book and watching all these videos.
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All of her talks are amazing!
