Guest lecturer Ruth Ben-Ghiat analyzed the threat of authoritarianism and political strongmen in the United States Monday at the Memorial Union as the 2026 Manatt-Phelps Annual Lecture.
“Authoritarianism is ascendant, and over 70% of the world’s population now lives under some form of illiberal rule,” Ben-Ghiat said. “The U.S. has become a key front in this struggle between tyranny and freedom.”
Authoritarianism, as defined by Ben-Ghiat, is the expansion of the executive authority and the personal power of the nation’s leader to the detriment of other branches of government, especially the judiciary.
“Over the last year, America has been the scene of an authoritarian takeover that builds on the classic playbook, but also departs from it in some respects,” Ben-Ghiat said. “However you feel about the political leadership of our country in this moment, it’s good to put it in perspective.”
A key component is how the public views their leader.
“In such cases, the leader’s personal enemies become the nation’s enemies, and so government resources are used for investigations, and public office becomes a way for the leader to enrich himself, his family, his allies and sometimes the families of the allies,” Ben-Ghiat said.
Ben-Ghiat also connected the inner sanctum of President Donald Trump to those of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Hungarian prime minister Vikto Orbán.
“Often, it’s times when there are lots of uncertainty and transition,” Ben-Ghiat said. “When traditional parties and political systems don’t seem to be meeting the needs of the moment, people want something different, and often these strongmen come from outside the political system, or they’re going to shake up the political system.”
Political strongmen shake up the political system by creating new movements, new political alliances and communicating with their followers in original ways.
“The leader has to be the man of the people, but he also has to be a man above all other men, so he has to be relatable, but he also has to be unique and the only one who can guide the nation,” Ben-Ghiat said.
Propaganda also drives strongmen.
“Propaganda is not just about getting people to believe this lie or that lie; it’s actually about retraining the mind to think in a different way, to make different associations,” Ben-Ghiat said.
Notable strongmen were involved in some form of media before their rise to political office. Benito Mussolini was a journalist, Adolf Hitler was an artist, Nayib Bukele worked in advertising and President Trump has a background in reality TV and marketing.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat works at New York University as a history professor and has authored seven books, including a New York Times Bestseller. She is considered an expert on fascism, authoritarianism and threats to democracy.
Ben-Ghiat writes for multiple news outlets, including The New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post and The Atlantic. She has also provided live commentary for organizations like CNN and MSNBC.
A recording of the lecture will be posted within two business days. Visit the Iowa State Lectures webpage to find upcoming events.