Dictators

Latest Episodes:

Queen Isabella Pt. 1: England Aug 25, 2020

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All her life, Isabella of France knew she was going to be Queen consort of England. But when her husband took the throne in 1307, it became obvious that he had chosen another as his favorite: Piers Gaveston. To survive, Isabella walked the tightrope of court politics, proving she was more than a pawn in the ever-changing relationship between England and France.

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Alfredo Stroessner Pt. 2: Paraguay Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

He attacked the press, oversaw egregious human rights violations, and even welcomed a notorious Nazi war criminal into his country. For decades, Alfredo Stroessner largely acted with impunity—until the late 1980s, when a chaotic schism in his party drove him into exile.

For more information on Paraguayan history and Alfredo Stroessner, check out The Dictator Dilemma: The United States and Paraguay in the Cold War by Kirk Tyvela. We found it extremely helpful in our research for this episode!

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Alfredo Stroessner Pt. 1: Paraguay Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

In 1932, 20-year-old Alfredo Stroessner was a cadet at the Paraguayan military academy. It would take a little over two decades for him to seize power through a military coup, and begin his 35-year reign as an implacable autocrat.

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Augusto Pinochet Pt. 2: Chile Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

From 1973 to 1990, Augusto Pinochet ruled over Chile with a brutality that left tens of thousands people missing, tortured, or dead. Despite his atrocities—and an unprecedented arrest—Pinochet escaped conviction for his crimes.

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Augusto Pinochet Pt. 1: Chile Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

He was a career military man until a coup against socialist President Salvador Allende installed him as Chile’s next leader. But Augusto Pinochet relished his newfound power, and in June 1974, passed a law naming himself the “Supreme Chief” of Chile.

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Jorge Rafael Videla Pt. 2: Argentina Jul 21, 2020

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After establishing himself as a military dictator, Videla fought a bloody conflict against citizens of his own country. With his public perception suffering, he turned to an American advertising agency to help him repair his global image…

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Jorge Rafael Videla Pt. 1: Argentina Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

In 1976, after thirty years as a military officer, Videla led a coup against the disastrous President Isabel Perón. He named himself president and waged a brutal war against political opponents and everyday citizens alike. By the time he stepped down, close to 30,000 citizens were missing or dead.

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa Pt. 2: Central Africa Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

In a move inspired by his hero, Napoleon, Bokassa named himself Emperor of the Central African Republic in 1977. But his lavish spending and absolute rule drew the ire of the nation’s students. When peaceful protests erupted in violence, Bokassa’s end would be at the hands of the country he adored: France.

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa Pt. 1: Central Africa Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Orphaned as a six-year-old in the late 1920s, Jean-Bédel Bokassa eventually found stability and prestige in the French Army. When he finally returned home to the newly established Central African Republic, he used his military career and family connections to secure power. Government officials grew to fear him—but unfortunately for them, Bokassa struck first.

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