8min chapter

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The Intelligence: The Economist reads

Economist Podcasts

CHAPTER

Literature and the Fragility of Democracy

This chapter examines the parallels between Shakespeare's 'Othello' and modern political issues in America, drawing comparisons between characters like Iago and figures such as Donald Trump. It also reflects on Sinclair Lewis's 'It Can't Happen Here' to illustrate the rise of authoritarianism and the delicate state of democracy. The conversation extends to the Nigerian political landscape through Ayobami Adebayo's 'A Spell of Good Things', highlighting the universal challenges of election integrity and the true nature of political power.

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