Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an American historian, author, and cultural critic renowned for her expertise on authoritarianism, fascism, and propaganda. A professor of History and Italian Studies at New York University, she is one of the leading voices on the rise of strongman politics in the modern era. Her acclaimed book "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present" draws on a century of history to illuminate how autocrats seize and maintain power — and how they are brought down. Ben-Ghiat is also a frequent media commentator and writes the Lucid newsletter, helping the public understand threats to democracy worldwide.