Dissecting the modern 'strongman'

In this lively interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of practitioners on the spot - from scholars to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. 

Have the last 15 years seen the most sustained decline in political freedom around the world since the 1930s? Chief Foreign Affairs columnist for the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman, believes so. And he points the finger of blame squarely at the rise of the modern 'strongman'. From Putin to Jinping, Orban to Bolsonaro,  liberal democracy, Rachman argues, is at risk of being eroded by the ego-driven antics of this new crop of leaders. But could Putin's war in Ukraine bring about the end of the era of the strongman?

Gideon Rachman is the Chief Foreign Affairs columnist for the Financial Times. In 2016 he won the Orwell Prize for Journalism and was named Commentator of the Year at the European Press Prize awards. Previously he worked for The Economist for fifteen years, and has served as a foreign correspondent in Washington, Bangkok and Brussels. His latest book is, 'The Age of The Strongman: How the Cult of the Leader Threatens Democracy around the World'. 

A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. 

In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. 

You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here.