Politics and Reality Radio: Authoritarians Hype Terror Threat; 3.5% of the Population Can Topple a Dictator; What’s Russia’s Game?
with Joshua Holland
This week, we begin by looking at the specter of terrorism, both real and imagined. Hyping the threat of terrorism and crime is a trademark of authoritarian governments. It should be noted that we recorded the show before Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden.
Then we’ll be joined by Luke Harding, author of A Very Expensive Poison: The Definitive Story of the Murder of Litvinenko and Russia’s War with the West. Harding spent four years as The Guardian’s Moscow bureau chief, and he offers some insight into the larger strategy behind Russia’s influence campaigns in the West.
Finally, we’ll speak with Erica Chenoweth, a professor of international studies at the University of Denver and co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. Chenoweth and her co-author, Maria Stephan, found that when even a small portion of the population is actively engaged, citizens can topple a dictator — and that nonviolent resistance is the quickest, most effective way of fighting an authoritarian government.
Playlist:
The White Stripes: “300 MPH Torrential Downpour Blues”
The Coasters: “Poison Ivy”
Southern Culture on the Skids: “Wheels”
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