![Democracy in Danger artwork](https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts114/v4/a3/ac/43/a3ac43c2-584f-bb0d-a2d9-7797d75170f2/mza_15462097894028407562.png/100x100bb.jpg)
S2 E1 – Cults of Personality
Democracy in Danger
English - February 02, 2021 13:00 - 26 minutes - 60 MBSociety & Culture News Politics democracy election history illiberalism media news politics unitedstates world Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Previous Episode: Preview: Season Two
Next Episode: S2 E2 – Down the Rabbit Hole
Remember Silvio Berlusconi? Sex scandals, shady deals and a cult-like following marked the former Italian prime minister’s lasting grip on power. It’s a playbook with a long history and a troubling appeal nowadays, says NYU historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat. On our first episode back from the winter break, she walks Will and Siva through the characteristics of political strongmen — and the lessons they offer for American democracy in the post-Trump era.