(How) Does Power Corrupt? Guest: Dr. Brian Klaas Talks About His New Book, Corruptible

Passing Judgment

We've all heard the aphorism from Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." But does it? And if it does, how does power corrupt people who would otherwise act in the best interest of others? Does power make people more susceptible to abusing that power or are people more likely to abuse power drawn to leadership positions? Author and political scientist Dr. Brian Klaas set out to answer those questions in his new book, Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us. (Scribner, November 9, 2021). In his previous books, The Despot's Accomplice: How the West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy and The Despot's Apprentice: Donald Trump's Attack on Democracy, Klaas turned his keen eye on the increasingly divisive state of the world and how the former U.S. president Donald Trump undermined democracy at home and abroad. This time, Klaas broadens the scope of his research by conducting over 500 interviews for Corruptible - sitting with presidents, rebel leaders, cult members and dictators to try and determine if that age old adage is true.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.