The age of the authoritarian

Everything you ever wanted to know about today's autocrats (but were afraid to ask).

Since Vladimir Putin seized power in Russia in 2000, the rise of authoritarian leaders has become a defining feature of global politics. Following Moscow's lead, similar tactics have succeeded in Beijing, Delhi, Ankara, Budapest, Manila, Riyadh, Brasilia – and ultimately, Washington. In recent years, conservative nationalists and populists have taken the helm of numerous countries, including several global superpowers, building cults of personality and presenting themselves as defenders of the ordinary people against corrupt institutions, condescending elites, and various external threats. These strongman politicians ruthlessly exploit the fears of ordinary citizens, using nostalgia for the old days as a tool alongside the latest technology, and do not hesitate to hijack traditional democratic achievements for their own benefit. They offer seemingly simple solutions to complex problems, summarised in appealing and punchy slogans, and then rush to blame any subsequent failure on legal obstacles or opposition schemes. We all know their names and their true faces, yet people like Putin, Trump, Bolsonaro, Erdogan, Xi, and Modi have held onto power for years, inspiring numerous imitators across continents. This unsettling contemporary phenomenon deserves close attention, and Gideon Rachman – a seasoned British journalist and long-time foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times and The Economist – not only aptly defines and clearly analyses it in his book, but also sheds light on its tragic consequences for the entire world.

Rachman's study of modern autocrats and dictators is essential reading. The experienced foreign policy expert reveals the background and context of many current issues gripping our world.

The print edition of the book was published by N media in 2024.

"Wow. I thought I followed the geopolitical situation quite closely, but reading this book has given me a much clearer picture. It is engaging and incredibly interesting." – reader review from CBDB.cz

"Rachman provides one of the most vivid and penetrating accounts of the new authoritarianism that has swept the globe." – Foreign Affairs

"A series of engaging and erudite essays on the global rise of authoritarian, nationalist-populist leaders and its devastating impact on the liberal-democratic tradition." – The Guardian

"A precise analysis of the recent rise of right-wing despots. Readable, engaging, and immensely valuable." – Booklist

"The scope of the author's reporting is astonishing. His sharp analysis offers valuable insight into a worrying global trend." – Publishers Weekly

When Putin first emerged as the leader of Russia, there was no sign that he would last so long in office – let alone establish a new model of authoritarian leadership. The chaotic Yeltsin era of the 1990s was slowly coming to an end, and Putin's rise to the presidency was facilitated by his former KGB colleagues. He was also endorsed by Russia's wealthiest and most powerful oligarchs, who saw him as a non-threatening figure – a capable administrator and a "harmless workhorse" who would not disrupt established networks and interests.

The West viewed Putin as a relatively reassuring figure. In his first televised address from the Kremlin on New Year's Eve 1999, just hours after taking over from Yeltsin, Putin promised to "protect freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the mass media, ownership rights – these fundamental elements of a civilised society". He won his first presidential election in March 2000, proudly declaring afterwards: "We have proven that Russia is becoming a modern democratic state."

Experienced observers of Russian elections argued that the entire process was carefully orchestrated. Putin himself did not even bother to campaign. Yet it was telling that he felt the need to claim Russia was becoming a modern liberal democracy. Twenty years later, Putin was still in the Kremlin, but this time he took a completely different line, declaring with some satisfaction that "the liberal idea has become obsolete". Russia, he now claimed, had nothing to learn from the West. Liberals "simply cannot dictate anything to anyone, although they have attempted to do so in recent decades". – book excerpt