Spin Dictators

The changing face of tyranny in the 21st century. How have classic dictatorships of fear and repression transformed into countries ruled by so-called 'spin dictators', who exploit the distortion and manipulation of information for their own benefit? What do Russia, Hungary, Serbia, China, Turkey, Algeria and Kazakhstan have in common? Even those not well-versed in politics will guess that they aren't exactly democracies. However, according to Guriev and Treisman, they are not classic dictatorships of fear and repression either. A new term was needed for states where freedom of the media, institutions and civil society does not flourish, and where opposition work and criticism of the government are risky. Guriev and Treisman came up with the term “spin dictators”, modelled on the English “spin doctors”, a name for media advisors who know how to twist reality to suit their client. While traditional dictators control citizens through intimidation, the newer spin dictators make do with distorting and manipulating information for their own benefit. In addition to a detailed description of how spin dictators operate in individual countries, the authors also offer a much-needed way out, recommending how democracies should deal with spin dictatorships.