- Speaker:
Ruth Ben-Ghiat
- Time
-
Monday, Oct 26, 2026 at 6:00 pm
- Location
-
Sun Room, Memorial Union
- Co-Sponsors:
- Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics
- Center for Cyclone Civics
- Political Science Department
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
2026 Manatt-Phelps Annual Lecture in Political Science, part of the America250 lecture series.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a Professor of History at New York University and a leading expert on fascism, authoritarianism, and threats to democracy, known for her New York Times bestseller “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present”. A recipient of Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships and the 2023 Maggie and Dan Inouye Distinguished Chair of Democratic Ideals at the University of Hawai'i, she publishes the Substack newsletter “Lucid” and writes for outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, while providing live commentary for CNN, MSNBC, and other networks worldwide. Her expertise has also made her a sought-after historical consultant for film and television, including Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning “Pinocchio” and the Netflix docuseries “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial”, as well as documentaries such as “How To Become a Tyrant” and “The Dictators' Playbook”.
This lecture recording can be found on the Available Recordings page approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.