IHIP News Trump Descends Into Chaos As His Health Weakens, Expert Warns of What He'll Do Next
Jan 17, 2026
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and bestselling author specializing in authoritarianism, joins the discussion on how weak leadership ultimately fails. She reveals why strongmen deliberately weaken their governments and employ voter suppression tactics. Ben-Ghiat connects recent policing actions to authoritarian repression, compares current events to historical dictators, and explains the 'gambling for resurrection' mindset of autocrats. With insights into the dynamics of power, ego, and public dissent, she highlights the implications for democracy and protest.
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Weakening The State To Consolidate Power
- Authoritarians intentionally weaken state capacity to make populations easier to control and profit from governance.
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat warns this includes promoting disease, rolling back regulations, and enriching oligarchs.
Electoral Autocracy Uses Elections To Mask Control
- Modern authoritarians win via elections then hollow out democracy, a pattern called electoral autocracy.
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat points to voter suppression, intimidation, and using institutions while making elections mean less.
Protect Democracy By Registering Voters
- Keep registering and mobilizing voters because elections can remain a check even under autocrats.
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat urges continued electoral engagement despite threats to voting integrity.
