Historian, Educator, and Commentator
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University. She writes frequently for CNN and other news and analysis sites on fascism, authoritarian leaders, propaganda, and threats to democracy around the world and how to counter them.
Her new book, Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present (W.W. Norton & Company) is the first study to place President Donald Trump in the context of a century of authoritarian leaders that use a playbook of corruption, violence, propaganda, and machismo to stay in power.
Available NOV 10, 2020 FROM W.W. NORTON & CO.
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.
The New York Times has selected STRONGMEN as one of its “books to watch for in November.”
Pre-Order Links
Interviews & Appearances
CNN International
Al Jazeera Up Front
PBS, The Dictator’s Playbook
Recent Articles
How Biden and Harris Can Overturn Trump’s Misogynistic Agenda
November 25, 2020, CNN.com
Why Strongmen Leaders Manage Exits from Power Badly
November 9, 2020, The Washington Post
“American Democracy’s Moment of Truth”
November 2, 2020, Project Syndicate
ONLINE Events
- October 27, 2020:
Strongmen: Mussolini To The Present
Museum of Jewish Heritage. Moderated by Jason Stanley, Yale University
Watch video
- November 9, 2020:
Entitled Men and Strongmen: Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Kate Manne Talk About Masculinity
Institute for Public Knowledge, NYU, 5 PM
- November 10, 2020:
In conversation with Richard Shaffer
World Affairs Council, Dallas/Fort Worth, 6-7 CT
- November 16, 2020:
In conversation with Peter. E. Gordon
Harvard University. Harvard Bookstore
- November 17, 2020:
In conversation with George Conway
Politics & Prose Live!, 8-9 ET
- November 19, 2020:
In conversation with Mauro Canali,
Casa italiana Zerilli-Marimò, NYU
- December 2, 2020:
In conversation with Virginia Heffernan, Trumpcast, LA Times.
Town Hall Seattle - December 8, 2020
Ruth in conversation with Federico Rampini, US Bureau Chief, La Repubblica.
Italian Cultural Institute, New York, NY