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Overview"The difference between a strong ruler and a despot can be defined by gratuitous cruelty in excess of the need to retain power, but what is it that drives a ruler to this extreme?The tyrants discussed in ""The Nature of Despotism"" share common backgrounds, behaviours and motivations that, when viewed together, can be seen as forming the character of the despot. From aspects that are easily predicted, such as violent, miserable childhoods, to those that seem more surprising, such as frustrated artistic impulses, each manifestation of despotic causes and effects is examined in detail.The book contains specific reference to the lives and careers of such despots as Nero, Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler, Robespierre, Stalin, Hitler, Papa Doc Duvalier, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussien, Kim Jong Il and more. With chapters on the use of ceremony and scapegoats to distract their people, the importance of building a personality cult, the pretension to and control of culture and the myth of efficiency, ""The Nature of Despotism"" is a fascinating look at what it is that makes a tyrant and offers predictions for the future of depotism in a world where international bodies increasingly intervene in a country's affairs." Full Product DetailsAuthor: Tom AmbrosePublisher: IMM Lifestyle Books Imprint: New Holland Publishers Ltd Edition: illustrated edition Dimensions: Width: 15.60cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 23.50cm Weight: 0.612kg ISBN: 9781847730701ISBN 10: 1847730701 Pages: 248 Publication Date: 26 September 2008 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Temporarily unavailable The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you. Table of ContentsReviewsAuthor InformationTom Ambrose read history at Trinity College Dublin and gained a postgraduate degree at University College London. He worked in advertising in London and Dublin before switching to producing and directing television documentaries. His widely acclaimed first book, Hitler's Loss: what Britain and America gained from Europe's cultural exiles (2001) was followed in 2005 by the successful The King and the Vice Queen: George IV's last scandalous affair. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |