The Origins of Tyranny

War Chiefs, Divine Kings, Dictators, and Totalitarians

Ronald M. Glassman

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English

Cognella, Inc
05 December 2023

General & world history; Philosophy; Sociology; Political structures: totalitarianism & dictatorship; International relations

Featuring a uniquely philosophical lens, The Origins of Tyranny: War Chiefs, Divine Kings, Dictators, and Totalitarians provides readers with an exploration of the development of tyranny throughout history within tribes, great empires, city-states, and nations. The book points to the nature of the human species as a way of understanding the roots of tyranny, examining how our intelligent awareness of ourselves and the world around us paired with our innate instinct toward domination-submission have engendered both democratic and tyrannical tendencies.

The book is organized into six distinct parts. Part I begins in hunter-gatherer times, exploring the rise of the alpha male and democracy in tribal societies, the transition from war chief to king, and the rise of the divine kingship. In Part II, students learn about oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny in Greek and Italian city-states and tyranny during the English and French revolutions. Part III discusses the progression of tyranny to totalitarianism in the 20th century, including material on Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and communist efforts in China and North Korea. Part IV introduces the concept of illiberal democracy, and Part V focuses on the causes of tyranny, including social crises, rapid social change, and political disorder. The final part speaks to the evolution of humanistic ethics and the question of whether women can save us from the alpha male.

Developed to help students better understand how tyranny takes hold, as well as how it can be combated and prevented, The Origins of Tyranny is an ideal textbook for courses in world history, philosophy, sociology, and international relations.

By: Ronald M. Glassman
Imprint: Cognella, Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9798823326438
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 05 December 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Ronald M. Glassman taught liberal studies at New York University and sociology at Connecticut College, William Paterson University, and the City University of New York. He has written extensively on democracy and the middle class.