#dictators

Podcasts

Dictocrats and Dictobrats – James Loxton on Why We Elect Former Dictators and Their Children

James Loxton discusses prominent cases of former dictators or the children of former dictators being elected democratically as president or prime minister; how such leaders deal with their authoritarian inheritance; what we might have misunderstood about democratization in the light of this rather widespread phenomenon; and how it might be countered more effectively in the future.

1.06.2026

News

The Return of Dictatorship – Grzegorz Ekiert and Noah Dasanaike on Dictatorial Drift, Autocracy Promotion and Strategies to Oppose Them

In this conversation, Grzegorz Ekiert and Noah Dasanaike explain their concept of dictatorial drift and how various countries have moved toward full autocracy in recent years; discuss new features of dictatorships in the early 21st century and how such regimes relate to each other; consider whether it makes sense to compare the growing trend of autocracy promotion with democracy promotion; and reflect on how full autocracies might be opposed more effectively in the future.

2.12.2024

Podcasts

Authoritarian Regimes Learn from Each Other – In Conversation with Mikal Hem

In our new podcast, Mikal Hem discusses what modern dictators and autocrats seem to have learned from their predecessors, reflects on what might drive voters toward leaders with autocratic tendencies, considers what democratic societies can learn from the survival strategies of dictators, and contemplates how the resilience of free media could be strengthened in autocracies.

12.11.2024