All Episodes

March 30, 2025 50 mins

Curious Worldview Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Zs20Bl4ftN4XPHtxnVAVB?si=hJCvtqvMR-iFq-HLdYt7Rg


Youtube - https://youtu.be/MntDK3kWRek

Curious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe
The following is with German political scientist, former beer brewer in the Congo, and author of How Tyrants Fall - Marcel Dirsus
Marcel interviewed coup leaders, dissidents and soldiers to write about the workings and malfunctions of tyrants. Because while the individual personas, eccentricities and reputations might make them all distinct from one another, there are more threads that draw disparate dictator's together than don’t.
I think this excerpt from the book sums up the essence of Marcel’s work and as well, the themes in todays podcast.
“The most powerful tyrants on earth are condemned to live their life in fear. They can make their enemies disappear with a snap of their fingers. They, their families, and their acolytes may control entire countries from the luxury of their palace, but they also have to spend their every waking hour plagued by the fear of losing everything. No matter how powerful they become, they cannot pay for or order that fear to disappear. If such tyrants make one wrong move, they will fall.”
So the interview is about the workings of various tyrants around the world, both living and dead. 
I ask Marcel about applying a prisoners of geography lens to this topic, china and the case for dictators not being all bad all the time, marcel’s rogues gallery of tyrants and as well, Marcel offers a raw reflection of the potential future of authoritarianism in the USA particularly because of the astounding moves made so far under trump. This was recorded the day after the US inauguration.
🍻☕: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryanhogg
Follow me on Instagram – @ryanfhogg

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

24/7 News: The Latest
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.