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The Rise of the Iron Men With Misha Glenny cover art

The Rise of the Iron Men With Misha Glenny

By: Misha Glenny
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  • Summary

  • The future of democracy is uncertain.

    Populist world leaders are dominating headlines and creating a new kind of politics that challenges democratic values and the liberal order.

    They influence the media, exert economic power, appoint judges, cultivate populism and seek to undermine the very institutions which brought them into power.

    In this gripping narrative, Misha Glenny, journalist and best-selling author of McMafia, tells the stories of six strongmen’s unexpected rise.

    A Somethin’ Else production for Audible Originals.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 6 episodes to your Library now.

    ©2020 Audible, Ltd. (P)2020 Audible, Ltd.
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Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Public Enemy No. 1
    Aug 17 2020

    This story starts in Hungary, 1989, the year Misha Glenny first set eyes on Viktor Orban - then a young student activist calling for an end to communist rule. Three decades later, Glenny asks: how did this once passionate liberal turn into the original strongman?

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    33 mins
  • Ep. 2: Duterte Harry
    Aug 17 2020

    He's called Pope Francis a "son of a whore", he wolf-whistles at female journalists, and he boasts about killing drug dealers - how did this provincial mayor become President of the Philippines?

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    36 mins
  • Ep. 3: A Very Strange Coup
    Aug 17 2020

    One summer’s evening in July 2016, fighter jets started circling around Istanbul, Turkey. It was the beginning of a military coup to overthrow modern Turkey’s longest-serving ruler - President Recep Tayipp Erdogan.

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    35 mins

What listeners say about The Rise of the Iron Men With Misha Glenny

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Putting Boris alongside this lot ?

Interesting and thought provoking but whatever your politics linking boris Johnson with know killers and dictators Is a bit far fetched to say the least. You may not like Boris, and I’m not a huge fan, but putting him alongside these guys is just silly headline grabbing and let’s down the whole series

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87 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Should be mandatory listening

A well researched and comprehensive yet succinct and easy listen that clearly maps out how we ended up in this mess thanks to a handful of selfish power-hungry men worldwide. It's also indirectly a a pretty damning critique of the patriarchy.

It is of course a bit depressing too - Proof positive that the general populace worldwide are so easily duped.

Unlike another reviewer I think the choice of including Boris Johnson is perfectly correct, showing how he and Cummings are using the same tools and methods of more "obvious" dictators to achieve the same ultimate results.

We live in interesting times indeed.

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great work but undermined by bias.

Well delivered and insightful providing intriguing snapshots on controversial figures who shape our world. However, uncomfortably biased in the final episode making rather difficult connections between mass murderers and UK PM. Sexist undertones detract from the critical analysis offered by contributors. However, would highly recommend.

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Full of Bias

Very one sided, a disservice to an important and interesting topic. Unfortunate work, a missed opportunity to do something worthwhile.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Only Tells one side of the story.

Dont see why they snidely try to put people like The PM of UK and Presdint of the USA into it.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thought provoking

Glenny makes some curious but pertinent links between these characters. Excellent listening. I strongly recommended it!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Misha Glenny EU Remainer still crying over Losing

Misha Glenny has dual Irish European Union & UK Passport ! EU Remainer does not like Boris Johnson mostly because he supports Brexit... London Elites thinks the Working Class? can not think for themselves... and it was Boris who won it ! LOL :)

Liberal Conservative Boris the clown he says is a lier and he is some kind of Iron Man... I'm not joking :)

Hard left Angela Merkel the real Boss of the European Union Empire... Is neither a Iron Man or a Iron Lady (Like Thatcher because she is Conservative?) You then get the drift of this Left Wing Guardian Podcast.

If you enjoy your writers to have a agenda to their own political views you will love this... If you absorb all kinds of Propaganda for your London Liberal Elite bubble who love the EU Empire dictatorship... and hate Democracy for your own Countries you will love this!

Populism of the People is bad = Majority voting for want they want in a true Democracy ? Vs Unelected unaccountable Minority Liberal Left dictators in Non Democractic EU who are building the next Empire in Europe ?

If you like Guardian writers you will love this and give it 5 stars but it will not change True Democracy for the Majority of the British Public who can think for themselves.

This is Political Bias... but also on my part ;) BUT at least I'm open and honest with you :)

I'm a average Conservative... If they call you Far Right then you know they are from the very very Far Left Communists...

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining read

Like many others, I can see a quote obvious bias and wine dubious connections. None the less there are some very valid points and it makes for an entertaining listen but not, perhaps, a historical accurate study.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Left wing propaganda

A wonderful and entertaining insight into how political figures are shaping the current world. Fantastic to see the emphasis on other politicians and not just Trump. Disappointing to see some wild and weak links to serious political issues. Still really worth the listen and motivation to do your own deep-dive on some of these politicians.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

stimulating and authorative I wanted more.

the result of research and included interesting references which I want to pursue and the delivery was excellent.

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8 people found this helpful