Modern Dictators: Third World Coup Makers, Strongmen, and Populist Tyrants

by Barry Rubin

This study discusses how such dictators as Qaddafi, Khomeini, Marcos, Somoza, and Castro, among others, achieved power, how they justified their rule and how they changed the character of the U.N.

Genres: Politics

385 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1987

About the author

Barry Rubin is an American-born Israeli expert on terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs.

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center, editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA), and a professor at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya, Israel. He is also editor of the journal 'Turkish Studies'.

Reviews

[Glen Chern · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know why it took me six months to finish this book, try reading it yourself. It is boring, mind-numbingly boring. However, it contained a great deal of information that is relevant even in the 21st century. Of particular interest is the author’s account of America’s involvement and interaction with several dictatorships, including Iran, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

[Mani Dawattgaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب ارتباط مستقیمی با تاریخ معاصر ایران نداره، ولی شباهتهای شگفت‌انگیزی بین موضوع کتاب و تاریخ ایران وجود داره.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish this book, only got to page 388. But I did try.

This book feels a lot older than its published date of 2013. I put this down to the facts and figures relied upon and the style of writing. It could have used a lot more editing so that its points were clearer. It rambles and you don't end up with a clearer message of what created or sustained these tyrants.

However a second edition brought up to date with current events and well edited would be a great read.

[Rafelmenmell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es bastante árido. Sin necesidad de caer en contar una colección de anécdotas podría ser mucho más vibrante. Es más un (mal) libro académico que literario o periodístico.