Something that I always find fascinating, especially in the post-Cold War world we’re living in, is the persistence of the existence of political strongmen (and strongwomen, but they are rarer). From Rodrigo Duterte to Viktor Orbán, the modern world still has its fair share of leaders who subvert democratic norms, revel in corruption, and exert control over their respective societies through an array of nefarious means.
Because of my fascination with these kinds of leaders, I find myself wondering - where else could they take root? For my own trouble, I’ve previously speculated on a Federico Trillo premiership in Spain (after experiencing an alternate, more violent Nineties) going the way of some of Europe’s more notorious strongmen. But, I wonder what other nations might have/have had the same experience with strongmen leaders in alternate universes?
The more recent the scenario or POD, the easier it is to imagine fitting into the post-Cold War world - so, do keep that in mind.
Because of my fascination with these kinds of leaders, I find myself wondering - where else could they take root? For my own trouble, I’ve previously speculated on a Federico Trillo premiership in Spain (after experiencing an alternate, more violent Nineties) going the way of some of Europe’s more notorious strongmen. But, I wonder what other nations might have/have had the same experience with strongmen leaders in alternate universes?
The more recent the scenario or POD, the easier it is to imagine fitting into the post-Cold War world - so, do keep that in mind.