About the Book: In Despots, veteran journalist Martin Sixsmith examines the parallels between Vladimir Putin’s rise in Russia and Donald Trump’s second presidency in the United States. Exploring the erosion of democratic institutions, attacks on press freedom, judicial independence, political dissent, and the concentration of power, Sixsmith investigates how elected leaders can undermine democracy from within. Drawing on his experience as a former BBC correspondent in Moscow and Washington, he traces the political strategies, alliances, and personal ambitions that shape authoritarian rule. This compelling work of political non-fiction offers a comparative analysis of modern authoritarianism, democratic decline, and the future of democracy.