William J. Dobson is politics and foreign affairs editor for Slate. He has been an editor at Foreign Affairs, Newsweek International, and Foreign Policy. During his tenure at Foreign Policy, the magazine was nominated for the coveted National Magazine Award for General Excellence each year and won top honors in 2007 and 2009. His articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has provided analysis for ABC, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, and NPR. He lives in Washington, DC.
Praise for William J. Dobson's The Dictator's Learning Curve:
“Intelligent and absorbing. . . . Mr. Dobson’s book, with luck,
will find its way into the hands of people who aspire to be
free.”
—The New York Times
“An essential perspective on a crucial struggle. . . . Dobson is
that rare thinker who combines a gift for storytelling with an
understanding of how the world works.”
—Fareed Zakaria
“[Dobson] writes with exemplary clarity and a sharp eye for color.
. . . Timely, authoritative, and as readable as a novel, this is
one of the season’s most resonant books—not least because it ends
on a note of guarded hope for the future.”
—Prospect
“A brilliant and original analysis of the nature of modern
authoritarianism.”
—Anne Applebaum, author of Iron Curtain, winner of the Pulitzer
Prize
“[A] deft, incisive book. . . . The mix of perspectives results in
an impressive overview of the global struggle between authoritarian
power and determined advocates of political freedom.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Dobson has invested time and insight, from China to Venezuela, and
Egypt to Russia, trying to capture the shape-changing nature of
modern authoritarianism, and the resourcefulness and wit of its
opponents. . . . [He] captures empathetically the skill and insight
of modern neo-despots – in much the way their more successful
opponents do. . . . Rare is the book on dictatorship that can end
on an uplifting note that its narrative carefully
substantiates.”
—Financial Times
“William J. Dobson’s exploration of the contest between
contemporary dictatorships and those who rebel against them is
valuable because it offers a sober analysis of both sides. Dobson
traveled nearly 100,000 miles researching this book, which takes a
close look at the face of modern authoritarianism. . . . His book
may be about the struggle for freedom of other countries’ citizens,
but there are lessons in it for the preservation of our own.”
—The Washington Post
“[A] thoughtful journey through formidable dictatorships of our
time. . . . Instead of offering caricatures of vintage dictators,
Dobson observes the more dangerous trend—of dictators adopting the
form of democratic governance, while draining it of any
substance.”
—The Independent
“Dobson’s is a terrific book to argue with. And it’s hard to think
of a higher compliment for a book about Big Ideas.”
—Christian Science Monitor
“Says something really fresh about the world we live in.”
—Michael Burleigh, The Telegraph’s Best Books of 2012
“After a remarkable year in which citizens of a dozen countries
have challenged their authoritarian governments, readers will
welcome veteran journalist Dobson’s overview of the complicated
dance of adaptation by the world’s dictators and those who resist
their oppressive power. . . . A timely, valuable contribution to
readers’ understanding of global unrest.”
—Booklist
“Colorful and sharply reported.”
—Bloomberg BusinessWeek
“Fascinating . . . some of Dobson's most astute observations come
from his reporting about China. The Chinese communists, he
concludes, are the least complacent of today's modern
authoritarians.”
—Foreign Policy
“A vivid real-time portrait of the movement for democracy. Among
its virtues, Dobson’s book clarifies the ways in which the recent
challenge to dictatorship represents a coordinated worldwide
effort, and the ways in which each country’s struggle is
unique.”
—James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic and author
of China Airborne
“It is hard to imagine a timelier book than this one. William
Dobson provides a new framework and a new vocabulary for
understanding modern authoritarianism, backed up by detailed and
gripping stories of dictators and their citizen opponents in
Russia, China, Venezuela, Egypt, and Malaysia. Anyone seeking to
make sense of the extraordinary tide of revolutions and protests
sweeping around the world will find The Dictator’s Learning Curve
an indispensable read.”
—Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter ‘66 University Professor
of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University, and
former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. State Department
“William J. Dobson vividly portrays [the] struggle against
authoritarian rule …Dobson’s coverage of Venezuela’s internal
political struggles is particularly fascinating. He had spectacular
access to well-placed sources in this oil-rich country, including
political prisoners.”
—Wilson Quarterly
“Dobson’s book ends up not only a sophisticated but also a
wonderfully readable account of the latest installments in an
age-old type of struggle.”
—Pacific Standard
“Dobson has interviewed scores of protesters, security experts,
opposition political candidates, elite power brokers, and a former
Egyptian police officer who, from his computer in the United
States, guided protesters occupying Tahrir Square…As a result, the
reader gets a wide-ranging overview of political strife as we live
it now.”
—The Weekly Standard
“Timely…Dobson chronicles in detail the ingenious but sinister ways
in which modern authoritarian regimes are suppressing dissent.”
—The Journal of Democracy
“A fluid study of how heavy-handed repression by authoritarian
regimes has given way to more subtle forms of control. . . . A
pertinent work of journalistic research that will gain fresh
meaning as authoritarian regimes both evolve and fall.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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