Trump & Strongmen
2016: “I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I wouldn’t lose one vote.”
While we laughed at these words, Prof Ruth Ben-Ghiat began to see similarities with the Strongmen of history: Mussolini and Berlusconi.
Listen in on my chat with Prof Ruth Ben-Ghiat on her fabulous book, 'Strongmen: How they rise, How they succeed, How they fail.' Based on her studies spanning 100 years authoritarianism around the world and Italian Fascism & propaganda, Prof Ben-Ghiat could see the signs of authoritarianism in Trump. While we all thought he would become 'presidential', she was warning Americans on where he was taking the US.
Our talk goes deep into the characteristics of the authoritarian Strongman: his strengths, weaknesses and final objectives of violence and subjugation. And it may not be the end of Trump: listen in to find out what's up next for Trump and the GOP.
For more information, check out CTP Notes that is completely dedicated to Strongmen.
Mo, Davide & Rebecca
Feel free to DM me @MoniqueCamarra on Twitter or write us an email: coffeetalkpolitics@gmail.com
Senior researcher: Davide Cortese
Junior researcher: Rebecca Bello (University of Siena)
Thanks for listening!
Mo
Trump & Strongmen- Prof Ben-Ghiat