From violence to manipulation: how modern tyrants wield power

Where authoritarian leaders once coerced their citizens with brute force, they increasingly rely on public support through manipulation. Misinformation, conspiracy theories and exploiting existing fears are among the tools of trade. Guest: Assaf Sharon, Professor of Philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Co-founder and Senior Fellow at Molad: The Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy. Co-author, with Avishai Margalit, of ‘Captive minds: a study of manipulation’ (Harvard University Press, May 2026) Producer: Ann Arnold