Ruth Ben-Ghiat

American historian of fascism and authoritarian leaders; professor of history and Italian studies at New York University; author of Strongmen (2020); publishes the newsletter Lucid.

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Newsletter Bluesky

What they believe

Authoritarianism is a system centred on corruption and plunder, with state capture as the means.

So I ask us to consider an updated way of thinking about authoritarianism as a political system centered on processes of corruption and plunder. State capture is the means, but plunder is the end.

lucid.substack.comSaid 26 Oct 2026This on korrents
Holding elections no longer shows that a country is a democracy.

In the 20th century, the practice of holding elections was often used to determine whether a country could be classified as a democracy. Today, as “electoral autocracies” take hold around the world, that’s no longer the case.

lucid.substack.comSaid 21 Oct 2026This on korrents

The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These 2: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.

All 7 beliefs, on korrents

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26 October

Ruth Ben-GhiatKorrents 26 Oct

From one piece Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballot 3 beliefs · lucid.substack.com

korrents.com
Resisting authoritarianism today means undoing the systems of corruption and exploitation that sustain it.

Their words

The task of 21st century resistance is not only to bring down authoritarian political structures, but also undo systems of corruption and exploitation that sustain those structures and move beyond a worldview that sees humans and the natural world as assets to be used and discarded.

Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballotlucid.substack.com
korrents.com
Authoritarianism strips rights from the many and gives the few licence to exploit.

Their words

Authoritarianism also about restricting or eliminating the rights of the many and giving vast new liberties to the very few to plunder and exploit the workforce, the environment, female bodies, natural resources, and much more.

Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballotlucid.substack.com
korrents.com
Authoritarianism is a system centred on corruption and plunder, with state capture as the means.

Their words

So I ask us to consider an updated way of thinking about authoritarianism as a political system centered on processes of corruption and plunder. State capture is the means, but plunder is the end.

Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballotlucid.substack.com

21 October

Ruth Ben-GhiatKorrents 21 Oct

From one piece The Fascist Idea of Elections 3 beliefs · lucid.substack.com

korrents.com
Autocrats keep holding elections to give their rule a veneer of freedom.

Their words

Keeping elections going covers their despotism with a veneer of freedom, which is useful for getting foreign loans

The Fascist Idea of Electionslucid.substack.com
korrents.com
Many illiberal leaders win power through elections and then rig the system to stay in office.

Their words

Many illiberal leaders come to power through elections and then manipulate the electoral system to get the results they need to stay in office.

The Fascist Idea of Electionslucid.substack.com
korrents.com
Holding elections no longer shows that a country is a democracy.

democracy

Their words

In the 20th century, the practice of holding elections was often used to determine whether a country could be classified as a democracy. Today, as “electoral autocracies” take hold around the world, that’s no longer the case.

The Fascist Idea of Electionslucid.substack.com

13 October

Ruth Ben-GhiatKorrents 13 Oct

korrents.com
Trump floats extreme violent ideas as trial balloons to radicalise Americans.

America

Their words

Using such “trial balloons” to radicalize Americans, inculcating hatred and an appetite for violence, has been a Trump campaign and governance strategy.

lucid.substack.com

1 June 2019

Ruth Ben-GhiatRecommends 1 Jun 2019

Recommendsrcmnd.app
The Anatomy of Fascism

Their words

The Anatomy of Fascism has great strengths.

fivebooks.com
Recommendsrcmnd.app
Fascist Spectacle

Their words

Fascist Spectacle is a valuable book from a sociologist who is quite theoretical but also very, very attentive to how policies play out in daily life and to the connection between rhetoric and action.

fivebooks.com
Recommendsrcmnd.app
The Origins of Nazi Violence

Their words

The Origins of Nazi Violence is a wonderful book that identifies the roots of the Nazi killing machine.

fivebooks.com

+ 2 more

Recommendsrcmnd.app
The Origins of Totalitarianism

Their words

Your readers may be familiar with The Origins of Totalitarianism and her historical genealogies of the main components of Nazism, which begin with the imperial mindset and imperial methods of repression during the colonial period.

fivebooks.com
Recommendsrcmnd.app
Family Lexicon

Their words

Family Lexicon, which is more like a novelized memoir, is a valuable testimony of how private life unfolded during Fascist Italy.

fivebooks.com

The whole feed →

Beliefs

Korrents What they believe 7 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
Recent
- Authoritarianism is a system centred on corruption and plunder, with state capture as the means.
  
  So I ask us to consider an updated way of thinking about authoritarianism as a political system centered on processes of corruption and plunder. State capture is the means, but plunder is the end.
  
  Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballot Said 26 Oct 2026
  
  Full record — everyone who holds this →
- Authoritarianism strips rights from the many and gives the few licence to exploit.
  
  Authoritarianism also about restricting or eliminating the rights of the many and giving vast new liberties to the very few to plunder and exploit the workforce, the environment, female bodies, natural resources, and much more.
  
  Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballot Said 26 Oct 2026
  
  Full record — everyone who holds this →
- Resisting authoritarianism today means undoing the systems of corruption and exploitation that sustain it.
  
  The task of 21st century resistance is not only to bring down authoritarian political structures, but also undo systems of corruption and exploitation that sustain those structures and move beyond a worldview that sees humans and the natural world as assets to be used and discarded.
  
  Strongmen Fall When Corruption is on the Ballot Said 26 Oct 2026
  
  Full record — everyone who holds this →
Show 4 more

Holding elections no longer shows that a country is a democracy.

In the 20th century, the practice of holding elections was often used to determine whether a country could be classified as a democracy. Today, as “electoral autocracies” take hold around the world, that’s no longer the case.

The Fascist Idea of Elections Said 21 Oct 2026

Full record — everyone who holds this →

democracy

Many illiberal leaders win power through elections and then rig the system to stay in office.

Many illiberal leaders come to power through elections and then manipulate the electoral system to get the results they need to stay in office.

The Fascist Idea of Elections Said 21 Oct 2026

Full record — everyone who holds this →

Autocrats keep holding elections to give their rule a veneer of freedom.

Keeping elections going covers their despotism with a veneer of freedom, which is useful for getting foreign loans

The Fascist Idea of Elections Said 21 Oct 2026

Full record — everyone who holds this →

Trump floats extreme violent ideas as trial balloons to radicalise Americans.

Using such “trial balloons” to radicalize Americans, inculcating hatred and an appetite for violence, has been a Trump campaign and governance strategy.

Trump’s Use of Violent Speech and Spectacles Echoes the Autocrat’s Playbook Said 13 Oct 2026

Full record — everyone who holds this →

America
All 7 beliefs →

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Recommends rcmnd

rcmnd What they recommend 5 things — each backed by an exact quote.
Compiled by rcmnd.app, not by them: the quotes are theirs, and each links to the post it was copied from.
Recent
- Recommends Family Lexicon 1 Jun 2019
  
  Family Lexicon, which is more like a novelized memoir, is a valuable testimony of how private life unfolded during Fascist Italy.
  
  fivebooks.com 1 Jun 2019
  
  What others say about Family Lexicon →
- Recommends The Origins of Totalitarianism 1 Jun 2019
  
  Your readers may be familiar with The Origins of Totalitarianism and her historical genealogies of the main components of Nazism, which begin with the imperial mindset and imperial methods of repression during the colonial period.
  
  fivebooks.com 1 Jun 2019
  
  What others say about The Origins of Totalitarianism →
- Recommends The Origins of Nazi Violence 1 Jun 2019
  
  The Origins of Nazi Violence is a wonderful book that identifies the roots of the Nazi killing machine.
  
  fivebooks.com 1 Jun 2019
  
  What others say about The Origins of Nazi Violence →
Show 2 more

Recommends Fascist Spectacle 1 Jun 2019

Fascist Spectacle is a valuable book from a sociologist who is quite theoretical but also very, very attentive to how policies play out in daily life and to the connection between rhetoric and action.

fivebooks.com 1 Jun 2019

What others say about Fascist Spectacle →

Recommends The Anatomy of Fascism 1 Jun 2019

The Anatomy of Fascism has great strengths.

fivebooks.com 1 Jun 2019

What others say about The Anatomy of Fascism →
All 5 recommendations →

Where they publish

Newsletter Lucid Essays on authoritarianism and threats to democracy

Open lucid.substack.com

Link verified 1 Nov 2026.
Bluesky ruthbenghiat.bsky.social Posts on authoritarianism and democracy

Open bsky.app

Link verified 1 Nov 2026.

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