Historian, Educator, and Commentator

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She is an MSNBC Opinion Columnist and commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and other media outlets about authoritarianism, Fascism, and threats to democracy around the world.
Her latest book, Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present (W.W. Norton & Company) examines how illiberal leaders use corruption, violence, propaganda, and machismo to stay in power, and how resistance to them has unfolded over a century.
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Now Available in paperback, with a new epilogue about Jan 6th.
Strongmen
Mussolini To The Present
Ours is the age of the strongman, of heads of state who damage or destroy democracy, use masculinity as a tool of political legitimacy, and promise law and order rule – and then legitimize lawless behavior by financial, sexual, and other predators. Covering a century of tyranny, this book examines how authoritarians use propaganda, virility, corruption, and violence to stay in power, and how they can be opposed.
MEDIA Interviews | Podcasts
Morning Joe, MSNBC, 01/10/23
Alex Wagner, MSNBC, 01/10/23
Breaking The Vote, Vice, 10/18/22
Ali Velshi, MSNBC, 12/04/22
The Last Word, MSNBC, 12/2/22
Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/26/22

The Rise of Global Fascism
Stay Tuned Podcast, 10/13/22
The Mary Trump Show, 9/30/22
Political Gabfest, Slate, 9/29/22
Featured Articles
The GOP might have a new neo-fascist fave
MSNBC, September 27, 2022
The Return of Fascism in Italy
The Atlantic, September 23, 2022
Putin thinks he’s the hero of Russia’s story. He couldn’t be more wrong.
MSNBC, February 26, 2022
Events
- October 19, 2022
“Strongmen: How Illliberal Leaders Consolidate Power and How They Can Be Defeated,”
Location: Amerikahaus Munich, 7 pm, Hybrid event.
- October 20, 2022
“Strongmen: How They Rise, How They Rule, How They Fall,”
Mercedes-Benz Foreign Policy Forum
Location: American Academy in Berlin, 19:30-21:00. In person.
- November 2, 2022
Strongmen Politicians at Home and Abroad: Author Talk with Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Alexis Coe,
Location: Morton Hall, Morton Library, Rhinecliff, 6:30-8pm. In-person.
- November 15, 2022
Featured Speaker, Democracy Summit, Center for Journalism and Democracy,
Howard University, Washington D.C.
Register: https://cfjd.howard.edu/register
PAST EVENTS (recordings)
- September 28, 2022
“America at a Crossroads,”
The Community Conversations Series, in conversation with Larry Diamond.
Watch video
- October 27, 2020
Strongmen: Mussolini To The Present
Museum of Jewish Heritage. Moderated by Jason Stanley, Yale University.
Watch video