The Digital Authoritarians
from Caffeine and Chaos Hosted by Paula Donovan
They don’t need tanks anymore — they’ve got timelines. In Episode 3 of Caffeine & Chaos: History of Authoritarianism, Paula pulls the plug on the illusion that modern strongmen are different from the old ones. They just swapped boots for broadband. From Putin’s “managed democracy” to algorithmic censorship and data-fueled obedience, this is the new face of control — quieter, cleaner, and always one update ahead. Elections still happen. Journalists still write. Citizens still post. But the code underneath it all? Written by power, not people. Featuring: The Putin Playbook: how to win legally and rule indefinitely “Illiberal democracies” and the performance of freedom How algorithms replaced propaganda The digital tools we mistook for liberation ☕ Lesson: The dictator doesn’t have to silence you — just keep you scrolling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pauladonovan03.substack.com
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