The Bunker – News without the nonsense From Hitler to now – How autocrats and dictators have evolved
Jul 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Daniel Treisman, a political science professor at UC and co-author of Spin Dictators, delves into the evolution of autocrats from Hitler to today. He reveals how modern leaders like Putin and Trump have adopted sophisticated tactics, shifting from overt brutality to subtle manipulation of public perception. Treisman highlights the role of technology in enabling state control and examines how contemporary autocrats strive for legitimacy while undermining democracy. The conversation emphasizes the resilience of civil society facing these challenges.
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Evolution of Dictatorship Tactics
- 20th-century dictatorships used massive violence and comprehensive censorship to maintain power.
- Modern autocrats like Putin use sophisticated PR and selective, camouflaged repression with less overt violence.
Putin's Shift to Fear
- Putin shifted from a spin dictator with minimal visible violence to a fear dictator using open repression post-2012.
- Modern authoritarianism blends manipulation with overt intimidation depending on regime and context.
Modern Autocrats Seek Legitimacy
- New autocrats pretend to be Western-style democracies to gain international legitimacy.
- They participate in global institutions while undermining them and host major events to project normalcy.
