Spin Dictators

"Spin Dictators" explores the rise of a new wave of authoritarian rulers who use sophisticated strategies like misinformation, democratic pretenses, and control of information rather than overt violence to maintain power. The book examines how leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán pioneered these methods, blending authoritarian tactics with global engagement to subtly undermine democracy. Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman analyze how these "spin dictators" differ from traditional repressive regimes and discuss the implications for democratic societies today.