How to Rig an Election

An engrossing analysis of the pseudo-democratic methods employed by despots around the world to retain control

Contrary to what is commonly believed, authoritarian leaders who agree to hold elections are generally able to remain in power longer than autocrats who refuse to allow the populace to vote. In this engaging and provocative book, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas expose the limitations of national elections as a means of promoting democratization, and reveal the six essential strategies that dictators use to undermine the electoral process in order to guarantee victory for themselves. Based on their firsthand experiences as election watchers and their hundreds of interviews with presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, election officials, and conspirators, Cheeseman and Klaas document instances of election rigging from Argentina to Zimbabwe, including notable examples from Brazil, India, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States—touching on the 2016 election. This eye-opening study offers a sobering overview of corrupted professional politics, while providing fertile intellectual ground for the development of new solutions for protecting democracy from authoritarian subversion.

O analiza captivanta a metodelor pseudo-democratice folosite de despoti din intreaga lume pentru a pastra controlul Contrar a ceea ce se crede in mod obisnuit, liderii autoritari care sunt de acord sa organizeze alegeri sunt in general capabili sa ramana la putere mai mult decat autocratii care refuza sa permita populatiei sa voteze . In aceasta carte antrenanta si provocatoare, Nic Cheeseman si Brian Klaas expun limitele alegerilor nationale ca mijloc de promovare a democratizarii si dezvaluie cele sase strategii esentiale pe care dictatorii le folosesc pentru a submina procesul electoral pentru a-si garanta victoria.