Cover of How Tyrants Fall

How Tyrants Fall

And How Nations Survive

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How Tyrants Fall

By: Marcel Dirsus
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF 2024

'Thought-provoking' THE ECONOMIST

'Compelling' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Entertaining' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Gripping . . . essential and captivating' BRADLEY HOPE

'A sparkling read full of original observations and captivating insights' KATJA HOYER

'Utterly compelling . . . jaw-dropping' BRIAN KLAAS

Strongmen are rising. Democracies are faltering. How does tyranny end?

Tyrants project invincibility, but all of them fall. This is because they face critical weaknesses that can form a fatal trap. Whether it's their inner circle turning against them or resentment of elites in the military, the masses alienated by cronyism or revolutionaries plotting in exile, tyrants always have more enemies than friends. And when they fall tyrants don't quietly retire - they face exile, prison or death. What happens in the aftermath can change the fate of a nation.

Meeting with coup leaders, dissidents and soldiers, political scientist Marcel Dirsus draws on extraordinary interviews to examine the workings and malfunctions of tyrants. We hear from a revolutionary (codename 'Satan') who risked Stasi capture to undermine an oppressive regime, an unapologetic former leader of a Burundian rebel group which carried out a massacre, and an American-Gambian activist who plotted to liberate his homeland on breaks during his construction job.

But understanding dictators isn't enough. How Tyrants Fall is the gripping, deeply researched blueprint for how to bring them down.©2024 Marcel Dirsus (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Ideologies & Doctrines Political Science Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State
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People living in democratic systems tend to consider them as part of normality and to view dictatorships as distant oddities. From the start, this book’s author points out that, over the centuries, autocracy was the standard regime and that yet today most humans have a very limited say as to who governs them.

He sets out to present a systematic and enlightening study of dictatorial systems. Decades of statistical data covering many countries are interweaved with detailed descriptions in specific locations. Though the author’s attachment to democracy cannot be questioned, his analysis is detached and scientific, in a guise some may liken to Machiavelli’s.

Among many striking insights, he points out that a tyrant personally fears for his life should he relinquish power. This precludes him from any form of retirement, should he ever wish it.

In the audio version, narration is very professionally done.

Masterful!

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