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Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Historian Author Expert on Fascism & Authoritarian Leaders

Historian and MSNBC Opinion columnist Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an expert on authoritarian leaders, fascism, and propaganda — and the threats these present to democracies today.  

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Bio

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Historian and MSNBC Opinion columnist Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an expert on authoritarian leaders, fascism, and propaganda — and the threats these present to democracies today. Author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Strongmen: Mussolini To The Present and over 100 op-eds and essays for The Washington Post, CNN, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, she brings historical perspective to her analyses of current events. Her deep insight into the authoritarian playbook has made her a sought-after commentator for television, radio, podcasts, and online events around the globe.

Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University and an advisor to Protect Democracy. A historical consultant for film and television productions, she was a featured commentator in the Netflix limited series “How To Become a Tyrant” (2021) and the PBS series “The Dictators’ Playbook” (2019). Her work has been supported by Fulbright, Guggenheim, and other prestigious fellowships.

Her latest book, Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present (Norton, 2020), carefully assesses how illiberal leaders use corruption, violence, propaganda, and machismo to stay in power, and how resistance to them has unfolded over a century. The Guardian called it “a chilling history” and “a superb examination.”

Her books Fascist Modernities and Italian Fascism’s Empire Cinema detail what happens to societies when authoritarian governments take hold and explore the appeal of strongmen to collaborators and followers. Growing up in Pacific Palisades, California, where many intellectuals who fled Nazism resettled, sparked her interest in authoritarian leaders and fascism. 

Ben-Ghiat produces a weekly newsletter, Lucid, examining threats to democracy and how to counter them.

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Topics

Topics

STRONGMEN: THE AUTHORITARIAN PLAYBOOK – AND HOW TO OPPOSE IT

ANTISEMITISM: AN OLD HATRED ON THE RISE AGAIN

PROPAGANDA AND THE DEATH OF TRUTH

HOW DEMOCRACY DIES TODAY – AND HOW TO PROTECT IT

Videos

Videos

Ruth Ben-Ghiat with Virginia Heffernan: How to Stop an Authoritarian "Strongman"
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, "Strongmen"

Books

STRONGMEN: MUSSOLINI TO THE PRESENT
STRONGMEN: MUSSOLINI TO THE PRESENT
Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema
Italian Fascism's Empire Cinema

News

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