First published 2023
Sarah Kendzior examines how authoritarians rise to power by breaking down their methods into five concrete steps. The Gaslit Nation co-host collaborates with Andrea Chalupa and artist Kasia Babis to expose the tactics dictators use to gain control and keep it. Kendzior shows readers how aspiring autocrats consolidate authority, eliminate opposition voices, turn citizens into weapons, and extend their rule even as their regimes crumble. Written as a satirical guide, the book reveals the disturbing ease with which democratic institutions can be dismantled. Kendzior transforms complex political manipulation into clear, actionable strategies that authoritarians follow across cultures and centuries. This analysis offers readers a framework for recognizing these dangerous patterns before they fully take hold.
Genres: political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: political-satire, social-commentary
304 pages · Hardcover · First Second