Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of the Strongman

by Charles Dunst

A Financial Times Best Book of the Week
A Financial Express (India) 2023 Top Pick

"Defeating the Dictators is a rare book: a deeply-researched and engaging work that both details the challenges democracies face, and offers us clear and persuasive solutions." –U.S. Senator Chris Coons

"Remarkable. A thoughtful and perceptive book." –Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

"Charles Dunst's deeply researched, timely and powerful book offers a blueprint for how democracies should fight back." –Sir Kim Darroch, former UK National Security Adviser and Ambassador to the United States

The world is currently experiencing the lowest levels of democracy we have seen in over thirty years. Autocracy is on the rise, and while the cost of autocracy seems evident, it nevertheless remains an attractive option to many.

While leaders like Viktor Orbán disrupt democratic foundations from within, autocrats like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin do so from abroad, eroding democratic institutions and values and imperilling democracies that appear increasingly fragile. There are even those who, disillusioned with the current institutions in place, increasingly think authoritarianism can deliver them a better life than democracy has or could.

They're wrong. Autocracy is not the solution - better democracy is. But we have to make the case for it. We have to combat institutional rot by learning from one another, and, at times, from our rivals. And we have to get our own houses in order. Only then can we effectively stand up for democratic values around the world and defeat the dictators.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2023

About the author

Charles Dunst has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, NPR, The Telegraph, and The Spectator, among other publications. He has reported from Cambodia, Hungary, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Myanmar, Oman, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

Reviews

[Mark Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Charles Dunst demonstrates why democracy is essential to all people's well being and fulfillment. The author also points to how restoring democracy can be accomplished—in a world where authoritarianism is advancing in both world and domestic politics, and in the psyche of too many populations. Dunst dashes any illusions that autocracy is necessarily the drab oppressive cinder block world of the former Soviet Union or the starvation of Mao's China—the book opens with a first person description of the opulence of tiny Singapore on the tip of Malaysia, an autocratic realm whose per capita income dwarfs that of the US.

The failure of democracies to meet the needs of their people has weakened the incentive for them to defend democracy—and made some people susceptible to the siren song of autocrats such as Orbán, Bolsonaro, and Trump. It's in this situation of economic hardship that persons who are wired for the "strict father model" (as defined by George Lakoff) clamor for strong men to alleviate their suffering—the problem with that is the autocrats eventually abandon their supporters' needs (once they've seized power) and attend only to their own whims, whether productive for their people or not. In cases such as Singapore, the autocratic government there has been attentive to keeping their people prosperous—even though they are under threat of severe penalties for frivolous offenses. It's also axiomatic that autocracies never produce innovation, as their very nature suffocates creative thinking—the best they can do is to steal it from innovative free countries.

Dunst advises that democracies need to up their game in the following ways: They must abandon their slavish devotion to discredited free market ideology, which has resulted in untenable wealth and power inequality—this situation is unsustainable, and will result in the fall of society one way or the other. The government has a proper and necessary role in providing a functional safety net and a fair taxation system, which does not currently exist especially in the US. Advocates of this essential approach must more effectively communicate its benefits, including to those parts of the population that are most susceptible to the lure of autocracy.

The solution is in regulating democratic capitalism so as to outright nurture entrepreneurship and artistic creativity, while also maintaining a no-nonsense safety net for when some of those projects inevitably fail. This is the sweet spot, to which all societies must go, now—the alternative is autocratic dystopia.

[Apurva Mujumdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to be back to reading after a rather long hiatus. A secret santa present awaited me home and I am glad this book turned out the way it did.
To be honest I was expecting a more 'aggressive' or a more radical book. Yet another reminder to never judge a book by its cover (or title) 😀

The author lays down a roadmap on how democracies need to up their game and systemically ensure that they survive as autocracies are globally on the rise. With nothing mind-blowing as a solution, I was almost irritated that why democracies like USA or Japan can't match and defeat a China. The answer lies in the fact that these rather simplistic ideas have more challenges than one can imagine. That's exactly what we discover in this book.

What surprised me is absolutely no reference to India in the entire book which made this book an incomplete read. The Singapore story, however, is a fascinating one. And just for that country's journey, my otherwise democratic soul, may have briefly leaned towards autocracy.

[Steve Angelkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the events that shaped the world in the 20th century.

This book offers a captivating and well-researched account of the rise and fall of some of the most notorious dictators in history, including Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin.

The book provides a comprehensive overview of the political, social, and economic factors that led to their rise to power, as well as the strategies used by the Allied forces to defeat them.

In addition to being a well-written and thoroughly researched work, "Defeating the Dictators" is also a thought-provoking and inspiring book. It is a testament to the power of collective action and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, politics, or military strategy. Whether you're a seasoned historian or a newcomer to these subjects, you're sure to find something of interest in "Defeating the Dictators."

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of Strongman" by Charles Dunst is a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to the rise and fall of authoritarian regimes and successful democratisation strategies. The book is divided into eight chapters, each examining a distinct element of the anti-dictatorship fight in depth. Dunst argues that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for deposing dictators, and that practical efforts necessitate a mix of domestic and foreign pressure, strategic nonviolence, and a dedication to developing strong democratic institutions. Civil society organizations, such as labor unions and religious institutions, can be crucial in creating a robust and sustainable democratic movement.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, comprehensive and simultaneously accessible, Charles Dunst's first book goes beyond the typical doomsday narrative to provide solutions that can better our democracies whilst hopefully defeating the rise of autocracies globally. Charles draws on his notable expertise in the Asia region to help flesh out examples / comparisons. His message aims to empower the people in democracies to exercise their voting powers and protect one of the greatest governance models of human history. I am both inspired and educated by this book, and I hope everyone adds it to their To Read piles this year!

[David Mihalyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be of little originality on actually understanding how democracy can prevail amidst autocratic threat. There is a lack of nuance in understanding the diversity in autocracies around the world and the multi-faceted ways they draw popular appeal, maintain popular support while limiting political competition.
Instead the book cherry picks narratives of successful policies in autocratic countries that are then used to advocate for various (typically quite widely discussed) center-left policies with somewhat similar intent.

[Pedram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely and in-depth assessment of the political terrain.
The huge positive aspect of this book is the detailed and honest account of success in modern autocracies. There are archetypes of successful non-democratic governance: efficiency, infrastructure, education, modern technology, and a ruthless judicial system weeding out corruption.
However, the book still defends democracy as a well-tested method albeit chaotic and (currently) below-par. The book calls for a revision and re-emphasize on democratic values, recognizing human capital, the value of diversity and providing scholarship and fundings for undergraduate and graduate training, especially in technology.

[Charles Dunst · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the book's author, I am obviously very biased, but I'm so thrilled to share "Defeating the Dictators" with all of you! The book is based on experiences living in, reporting from, and traveling to countries like Cambodia, Hungary, Myanmar, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. My focus with "Defeating the Dictators" was not only to explain what seems to be going wrong in democracies, but to offer a clear and realistic set of solutions on issues like accountability, merit, and trust. I hope you all enjoy and find some value in the book. Thanks for reading!

[Lissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly readable book, well researched and thoughtful. Chockfull of examples from around the world of things that dictators do well and lessons that democracy can learn from them. This is an ultimately hopeful book at a time when it seems that democracy is in decline around the globe.

[Carlos Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

light read full of solutions

Dunst has an aspirational book- democracies mist get their act together and thus, keep being a force. Autocracies ( specially China) are a challenge. Ideas are well set for change,,, now do we follow?

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite get the point of this book. Maybe it's my fault for taking the subtitle too literally, but there isn't really a "how," just an argument that liberal democracy is superior and humans should continue to pursue it.

[Brantley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking advice for little-d democrats, which largely boils down to "do better by your people so other countries see how democracy can help people thrive."
Sadly, we haven't been doing many of the things this book recommends lately...

[Brandy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! Highly recommend

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging and timely work

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and highly readable, with lots of history and contemporary politics.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rigorous but readable book, Defeating The Dictators is an important treatment of the challenge of our day: the battle between democracies and autocracies

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone concerned about the state of democracy, not only in the United States but in Europe, Asia, and beyond as well

[Finn (theroyaltyreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars