by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Feb 8, 2024 | Lucid
Lucid, February 8, 2024 With ongoing legal developments in mind, this week I focus on a case study of the horrors that ensue when the rule of law is replaced by rule by the lawless. That case study is Chile during the United States-backed military dictatorship of... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Jan 3, 2024 | Lucid
January 3, 2024 The essence of authoritarianism is getting away with crime, and corruption must be at the center of any analysis of how dictatorships operate. A large percentage of actions authoritarians take are about covering up corruption: demonizing and jailing... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Dec 13, 2023 | Lucid
December 11, 2023 “I said I wanted to be a dictator for one day. You know why I wanted to be a dictator? Because I want a wall, and I want to drill, drill, drill.” As a skilled propagandist, former president Donald Trump is a seasoned liar. Telling... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Nov 17, 2023 | Lucid
Lucid EssayOctober 25, 2023Subscribe Here Welcome back to Lucid, and hello to all new subscribers! Here is a rare Monday post on an important subject: Trump’s use of dehumanizing language that echoes Fascist speech. Former President Donald Trump REALLY does not want... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Oct 25, 2023 | Lucid
Lucid EssayOctober 25, 2023Subscribe Here “We know how damaged our institutions of democracy — our judiciary, the legislature, the executive — have become in the eyes of the American people, even the world, from attacks within over the past few years,”... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Dec 7, 2022 | Lucid
December 7, 2022 Are you confused about the meaning of Fascism? If so, you’re not alone. Benito Mussolini, the creator of Fascism, famously did not define it until 1932. With Nazis once again making news in America and a neo-Fascist as Italian head of...