The Dictator’s Learning Curve: Inside The Global Battle For Democracy

Description

In this riveting anatomy of authoritarianism, acclaimed journalist William Dobson takes us inside the battle between dictators and those who would challenge their rule. Recent history has seen an incredible moment in the war between dictators and democracy—with waves of protests sweeping Syria and Yemen, and despots falling in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. But the Arab Spring is only the latest front in a global battle between freedom and repression, a battle that, until recently, dictators have been winning hands-down. The problem is that today’s authoritarians are not like the frozen-in-time, ready-to-crack regimes of Burma and North Korea. They are ever-morphing, technologically savvy, and internationally connected, and have replaced more brutal forms of intimidation with subtle coercion. The Dictator’s Learning Curve explains this historic moment and provides crucial insight into the fight for democracy. Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Dedication......Page 4 Epigraph......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 7 Chapter 1| The Czar......Page 19 Chapter 2| Enemies of the State......Page 58 Chapter 3| El Comandante......Page 92 Chapter 4| The Opposition......Page 134 Chapter 5| The Youth......Page 167 Chapter 6| The Pharaoh......Page 209 Chapter 7| The Professionals......Page 250 Chapter 8| The Technocrats......Page 280 Epilogue......Page 319 Acknowledgments......Page 327 Notes......Page 333 About the Author......Page 376