Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present — A Discussion with Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Published 2021-02-17
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of Italian and History at NYU. A historian and cultural critic, her work focuses on fascism, authoritarianism, war, propaganda, and the presidency of Donald Trump. Her books include Fascist Modernities (2004), Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema (2015), which won the Edinburgh Gadda Prize for Modern Italian Studies, and Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present (2020).
She has been a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, a recipient of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, the Fulbright Research Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, a Kluge Fellowship (Library of Congress), and a Getty Research Institute Fellowship. She serves on the editorial or advisory boards of the Journal of Modern Italian Studies, the European History Quarterly, and Gender/Sexuality/Italy.
All Comments (13)
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Ruth Ben- Ghiat in her book "Strongmen" has one of the best frameworks for understanding anything Trump, his tactics, his psychological needs and his authoritarian practice of corruption and propaganda as a means for holding and maintaining power within an American democracy! Just excellent!
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Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a superb writer and speaker. This interview of her was one of her best I have seen due to the expert questioning. The book "Strongman" helped me understand in a very direct way not only why America is in this very difficult situation, but how this situation has arisen and what continues to drive it.
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Fast forward to NOW, 9/18/23...since this lecture first aired & how much of what Ruth speaks of has not only come to light but has worsened, intensified, and thus her predictive models are extremely on point. But, it also has educated, motivated & intensified the inspiration to fight back...to push back to fight FOR democracy! Its highlighted and inspired our need to collectively fight back, forming coalitions & pushing back in the war against disinformation.
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So authoritarians tend to be narcissists but narcissists are often not authoritarians. She mentioned that these autocrats tend to strike out when folks try to take them away from the offices to which they cling. I had an epiphany and realized that is the exact same mindset and behavior that one sees with domestic abusers (usually men) who seek to possess, control, confine, and isolate their mates and attack them violently if they try to get out of the relationship. The relationship between autocrat and public is much like that between the domestic abuser and the usually woman whom he holds captive.
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Listening to this on July 1st, 2024, post-debate debacle. Underscores the idea that chump should not be anywhere NEAR politics, much less at large...and still so. Breathtaking.
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what a great loss to all who care about this all important subject that you tube view count is so low... so much learning can be had by those who see this video.... do people a favor and forward them the link.
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The good part that this is daying out ….yes we see it in turkey hungary but nowhere else
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And you know... especially for those born from 9–11–2001... This special generation must learn their history lesson in TRUTH... in 20 years I will be 96 going on 97... how old will you be... and will be always standing up for truth..✍️🔥😃🎺🎺🐇🐇🎹🎹🎶🎶🇺🇸🥾🥾🐓💩🔥🔥🔥🔥🥾🥾👿🔥🔥🔥🔥✍️😊🤚🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🇺🇸🏠❤️💎☝️
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Q dientes tan blancos tiene esta hermosura d mujer 😍
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do Israel
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Ruth,what do you think of this scary catchy slogan?
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Ruth,what do you think of this scary catchy slogan? Biden: "This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated"
