Gideon Rachman – författare

Brought to you by Penguin.In The Age of the Strongman, Gideon Rachman finds global coherence in the chaos of the new nationalism, leadership cults and hostility to liberal democracy.We are in a new era: authoritarian leaders have become a central feature of global politics. Since 2000, self-styled strongmen have risen to power in capitals as diverse as Moscow, Beijing, Delhi, Brasilia, Budapest, Ankara, Riyadh and Washington.These leaders are nationalists and social conservatives, with little tolerance for minorities, dissent or the interests of foreigners. At home, they claim to be standing up for ordinary people against globalist elites; abroad, they posture as the embodiments of their nations. And everywhere they go, they encourage a cult of personality. What''s more, these leaders are not just operating in authoritarian political systems but have begun to emerge in the heartlands of liberal democracy.While in the West the EU referendum and the election of Donald Trump in 2016 mark a watershed, the new era started at the beginning of the new millennium, when Vladimir Putin took power in Russia. How and why did this new style of strongman leadership arrive? How likely is it to lead the world into war or economic collapse? And what liberal forces are in place not only to keep these strongmen in check but to reverse the trend?From Trump, Putin and Bolsonaro to Erdogan, Xi and Modi, Gideon Rachman pays full attention to the strongman phenomenon around the world and uncovers the complex and often surprising interaction between these leaders. Whilst others have tried to understand the emergence of these new leaders individually, The Age of the Strongman provides the first truly global treatment of the new nationalism, underpinned by an exceptional level of access to key actors in this drama: Gideon Rachman has been in the same room with most of these strongmen and reported from their countries over a long journalistic career.© Gideon Rachman 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Peace and stability between the world s most powerful nations is coming to an end. How did we get here and what happens next?

Simply brilliant SERHII PLOKHY

Urgent, beautifully written terrifying AMOL RAJAN

Rachman is one of the wisest observers of our strange times. Listen to him ANNE APPLEBAUM

Wars have broken out in Europe and the Middle East, tensions are rising in East Asia, world leaders speak about the possibility of World War Three, and intelligence agencies have never seen the world in a more precarious state.

After the Cold War, the US dominated the global economy and international political system. But a weakening in Western power has opened the door for countries that want to challenge this global power structure; Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are all seeking to overturn the current order. And with Donald Trump in the White House, international politics is becoming ever more unpredictable and volatile.

As the FT s chief foreign affairs commentator, Gideon Rachman had a ringside seat as these events developed. With unparalleled access to political and intelligence leaders, and full of sharp and insightful analysis, War is Interested in You explores how we got to this point in global affairs and, crucially, what happens next.

As Trotsky once put it: You may not be interested in war. But war is interested in you .

A geopolitical masterclass and a warning Extraordinary EDWARD FISHMAN

An important and fascinating book CAROLINE MOORHEAD

A must read IAN BREMMER