Dr. Ben-Ghiat, I read Strongmen and found it riveting. Your research and analysis are stunning and well-supported by facts and excellent analysis. I noticed that many or most of the strongmen had reigns of 10 or 20 years. Are we going to be able to topple the regime’s momentum sooner or will it be later? I ask because I’m 71. I’m still able to fight for my beliefs.
Why do some men and even some women feel threatened by women who express indignation, anger, and assertiveness and how do we address that in raising children (and husbands)? How best to express our anger in a productive manner?
That's the way sex-ism, rac-ism and every other -ism or power structure works: only the upperclass of ppl is allowed to express anger or to be heard. The underclass is there to serve, to demure themselves, to be unseen, unheard and unrespected. It *is an existential threat to the power structure -ism for the underclassling to express themselves. Some women feel co-threatened bc they ally themselves with the power structure. The qn is how to open ppl's ears to the wisdom of their mothers, wives and female coworkers and neighbors. The qn is how to stop ignoring women, not how to get women to express themselves differently.
Nancy Bonvillain discusses this in a chapter of her book on "Cultural Anthropology". In certain cultures (esp sex-ist cultures I would add) from a young age kids see women speaking differently at the dinner table than men do, in a more withdrawn, permission-seeking way, instead of in a present, permission-granted way. Men learn from the culture to respond differently to women's comments than to men's comments, to respond in ways that discount them and to pay attention to the men's comments. It's an interesting read on how Anthropologists have analyzed the group's conversational speaking styles in different cultures.
In fascism, women are seen as inferior to men as a result of the fascist belief in social Darwinism. This is a belief that human society should act in a manner similar to the animal world pecking order. Since nearly all fascist leaders have been sociopaths, we cannot separate the behavior toward women in sociopathic males from how women are treated in fascist societies. Sociopathic men are very intollerant of assertive women. One example is how female reporters are treated in press conferences with tRump. He's also on his third marriage, which tells us something.
An event to look forward to. Congrats on the 5th anniversary and thanks for your continued work educating the public. Your voice is so important and encourages others (especially women) to raise ours.
The wealthy oligarchs control America to attack democracy and implement a lawless fascist autocracy. The oligarchs control Republicans and the news media which present Trump as a healthy leader and ignore the gender sickness of hypermasculinity, misogyny, and homophobia in Trump, his administration, his MAGA base, Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court.
But the biggest obstacle to saving democracy in America is the ignorance in America supported by Democrats which have failed to recognize the ongoing criminal felony insurrection led by Trump. Not enforcing the federal law against insurrection has caused the failure to save democracy. What’s happened in America is an insurrection by Trump, his administration, ICE agents, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court. The insurrection started on January 6, 2021, was planned in PROJECT 2025, and continues as planned in 2025. The authoritarian illegal “war” attacking Americans redefined as enemy combatants, is defined as a felony crime in federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
What can be done now? A new law in blue states modeled after the federal law can be created and enforced beginning in 2025 by Democrats who control 15 states so that Democrats can take control of the House and the Supreme Court before the midterms.
Then read this post on PROJECT 2029 which is how a new generation of Democrats can get elected in 2028 by solving core problems in America which include wealth inequality causing the problem of affordability in housing, healthcare, food, and the lack of good paying jobs for the working class.
John Roberts, in his powerful position on the SCOTUS, has been bought and paid for by the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo in particular. When the Chief Justice is dirty, we are in deep trouble as a nation.
If this coup fails, there could be a Nuremberg 2.0 where people like tRump, Roberts, Miller and Vought get prison terms.
Dr. Ben-Ghiat, I read Strongmen and found it riveting. Your research and analysis are stunning and well-supported by facts and excellent analysis. I noticed that many or most of the strongmen had reigns of 10 or 20 years. Are we going to be able to topple the regime’s momentum sooner or will it be later? I ask because I’m 71. I’m still able to fight for my beliefs.
Strongmen is a great book. It is very well researched, but it is also vivid in the way it traces the similar themes of dictatorships.
Why do some men and even some women feel threatened by women who express indignation, anger, and assertiveness and how do we address that in raising children (and husbands)? How best to express our anger in a productive manner?
That's the way sex-ism, rac-ism and every other -ism or power structure works: only the upperclass of ppl is allowed to express anger or to be heard. The underclass is there to serve, to demure themselves, to be unseen, unheard and unrespected. It *is an existential threat to the power structure -ism for the underclassling to express themselves. Some women feel co-threatened bc they ally themselves with the power structure. The qn is how to open ppl's ears to the wisdom of their mothers, wives and female coworkers and neighbors. The qn is how to stop ignoring women, not how to get women to express themselves differently.
Nancy Bonvillain discusses this in a chapter of her book on "Cultural Anthropology". In certain cultures (esp sex-ist cultures I would add) from a young age kids see women speaking differently at the dinner table than men do, in a more withdrawn, permission-seeking way, instead of in a present, permission-granted way. Men learn from the culture to respond differently to women's comments than to men's comments, to respond in ways that discount them and to pay attention to the men's comments. It's an interesting read on how Anthropologists have analyzed the group's conversational speaking styles in different cultures.
In fascism, women are seen as inferior to men as a result of the fascist belief in social Darwinism. This is a belief that human society should act in a manner similar to the animal world pecking order. Since nearly all fascist leaders have been sociopaths, we cannot separate the behavior toward women in sociopathic males from how women are treated in fascist societies. Sociopathic men are very intollerant of assertive women. One example is how female reporters are treated in press conferences with tRump. He's also on his third marriage, which tells us something.
An event to look forward to. Congrats on the 5th anniversary and thanks for your continued work educating the public. Your voice is so important and encourages others (especially women) to raise ours.
Do the book tour now!!
The wealthy oligarchs control America to attack democracy and implement a lawless fascist autocracy. The oligarchs control Republicans and the news media which present Trump as a healthy leader and ignore the gender sickness of hypermasculinity, misogyny, and homophobia in Trump, his administration, his MAGA base, Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court.
But the biggest obstacle to saving democracy in America is the ignorance in America supported by Democrats which have failed to recognize the ongoing criminal felony insurrection led by Trump. Not enforcing the federal law against insurrection has caused the failure to save democracy. What’s happened in America is an insurrection by Trump, his administration, ICE agents, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court. The insurrection started on January 6, 2021, was planned in PROJECT 2025, and continues as planned in 2025. The authoritarian illegal “war” attacking Americans redefined as enemy combatants, is defined as a felony crime in federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
What can be done now? A new law in blue states modeled after the federal law can be created and enforced beginning in 2025 by Democrats who control 15 states so that Democrats can take control of the House and the Supreme Court before the midterms.
Read this post.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and
Then read this post on PROJECT 2029 which is how a new generation of Democrats can get elected in 2028 by solving core problems in America which include wealth inequality causing the problem of affordability in housing, healthcare, food, and the lack of good paying jobs for the working class.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/project-2029-gets-democrats-elected
John Roberts, in his powerful position on the SCOTUS, has been bought and paid for by the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo in particular. When the Chief Justice is dirty, we are in deep trouble as a nation.
If this coup fails, there could be a Nuremberg 2.0 where people like tRump, Roberts, Miller and Vought get prison terms.
Steve,
Yes. Solutions are described in the two posts mentioned. The Nuremberg 2.0 is described in the second post as part of PROJECT 2029.
This sounds like a fascinating and timely conversation - really looking forward to it!
Hi, can you tell me as a paid subscriber, am I paying $50/mth or yearly? Thank you!