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dictatorship

To be a stranger in one's own town

IRAQ: The Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad has written an excellent book that dispels the typical view of a sectarian and divided society as the main cause of Iraq's long and continuing tragedy.

The Mystery of Vladimir Putin

SPIN DICTATOR: After dictators left their mark on the 20th century with indescribable crimes, it can be difficult to understand how the authoritarian forms of government have made an apparent return in our time.

In the direction of the totalitarian

PRE-FASCISM: Timothy Snyder's little textbook on tyranny – written for society "between Hitler and Stalin" – lies between patriotic obedience and political disobedience. The book is still current.

Regime criticism as entertainment

Four Polish women have created an entertaining TV series where sharp regime criticism is the theme – with the talking title 1983.

Why I traveled to Chechnya

It is risky to travel to places where torture and murder take place. As a journalist, one can quickly become unwanted – and attacked. Just this happened on my trip in Chechnya.