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Kirkus, Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Independent, Christian Science MonitorSynopsis
In this riveting anatomy of authoritarianism, acclaimed journalist William Dobson takes us inside the battle between dictators and those who would challenge their rule. Recent history has seen an incredible moment in the war between dictators and democracy—with waves of protests sweeping Syria and Yemen, and despots falling in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. But the Arab Spring is only the latest front in a global battle between freedom and repression, a battle that, until recently, dictators have been winning hands-down. The problem is that today’s authoritarians are not like the frozen-in-time, ready-to-crack regimes of Burma and North Korea. They are ever-morphing, technologically savvy, and internationally connected, and have replaced more brutal forms of intimidation with subtle coercion. The Dictator’s Learning Curve explains this historic moment and provides crucial insight into the fight for democracy.
About William J. Dobson
See more books from this AuthorA pertinent work of journalistic research that will gain fresh meaning as authoritarian regimes both evolve and fall.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve | See more reviews from KirkusMr. Dobson delivers portraits of some of the world’s leading intellectual, tactical and financial advocates of grass-roots democracy.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve | See more reviews from NY TimesDobson captures empathetically the skill and insight of modern neo-despots – in much the way their more successful opponents do.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve | See more reviews from Financial Times...exploration of the contest between contemporary dictatorshipsand those who rebel against them is valuable because it offers a sober analysis of both sides.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve...in his thoughtful journey through formidable dictatorships of our time, where smart, authoritarian leaders have learned clever tricks to ensure that they do not become yesterday's men.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning CurveIn fact, Dobson’s is a terrific book to argue with. And it’s hard to think of a higher compliment for a book about Big Ideas.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning CurveDobson was in the midst of his research when the uprisings of the Arab Spring exploded. It gave him hope about democracy’s prospects.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning CurveJournalist and editor William J. Dobson sought to find the roots of these movements and trace their courses, as well as ferret out efforts by the entrenched to head off change...
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve...the reader gets a wide-ranging overview of political strife as we live it now, from Syrian Internet video to Chinese Internet shutdowns, from street battles in Tunis to street theater in Cairo.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning Curve...a collection of short, evocative dispatches from the Arab countries and Egypt, but also Russia, China, Venezuela, and, in less depth and detail, Malaysia.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning CurveDobson’s book ends up not only a sophisticated but also a wonderfully readable account of the latest installments in an age-old type of struggle.
Read Full Review of The Dictator's Learning CurveAn aggregated and normalized score based on 30 user ratings from iDreamBooks & iTunes
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