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How Tyrants Fall

And How Nations Survive

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 AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF 2024

'Thought-provoking' THE ECONOMIST

'Compelling' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Entertaining' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Gripping . . . essential and captivating' BRADLEY HOPE

'A sparkling read full of original observations and captivating insights' KATJA HOYER

'Utterly compelling . . . jaw-dropping' BRIAN KLAAS

Strongmen are rising. Democracies are faltering. How does tyranny end?

Tyrants project invincibility, but all of them fall. This is because they face critical weaknesses that can form a fatal trap. Whether it's their inner circle turning against them or resentment of elites in the military, the masses alienated by cronyism or revolutionaries plotting in exile, tyrants always have more enemies than friends. And when they fall tyrants don't quietly retire - they face exile, prison or death. What happens in the aftermath can change the fate of a nation.

Meeting with coup leaders, dissidents and soldiers, political scientist Marcel Dirsus draws on extraordinary interviews to examine the workings and malfunctions of tyrants. We hear from a revolutionary (codename 'Satan') who risked Stasi capture to undermine an oppressive regime, an unapologetic former leader of a Burundian rebel group which carried out a massacre, and an American-Gambian activist who plotted to liberate his homeland on breaks during his construction job.

But understanding dictators isn't enough. How Tyrants Fall is the gripping, deeply researched blueprint for how to bring them down.©2024 Marcel Dirsus (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Political Science Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State Military Middle East
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An outstanding book that highlights how weak tyrants really are. Liberal democracy is stronger than we think.

There is hope—a lot.

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Poor, in fact very poor narration, his voice comes across as AI and not in a good way. I even tried the audio at .95 speed, still no improvement.
Really enjoying the subject and how Marcel tells the story of these truly dreadful people.

Very good subject matter

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