Drawing from personal experience as a German child growing up during the rise of Hitler, and later living in other countries whose democracies slid into autocracy in similar ways, Mack’s Parallels in Autocracy is compellingly insightful and deeply chilling. Reflecting on our species’ self-destructive tendency to relinquish freedom to autocrats, the author finds not only tragedy, but also compassion for the human condition and hope.
‘… an eclectic combination of memoir and political analysis … astute and historically rigorous throughout. Mack couples his recollections with political commentary that assesses the terrible damage that autocracy does to civil society, and how an elected demagogue can nullify the very same democratic mechanism that ushered him into power. … An often moving recollection of despotism and a lucid analysis of its genesis.’ -Kirkus Review
About the author
Growing up in Nazi Germany, Wolfgang Mack witnessed his country’s slide into the nightmare of a dictatorship the likes of which the world had never seen. After barely surviving the war he studied engineering and economics in Germany and Austria, and under a postgraduate Fulbright scholarship in the US, settling eventually here with his young family.
He has managed industrial enterprises here, as well as in countries while they were still reeling under dictatorships. Working closely with their professionals under often trying circumstances gave him a good understanding what it means for ordinary people to live in an autocracy.
Later, representing industry associations in our halls of politicians and lawmakers he also gained insight in the ways interest groups influence public policy making. He has lectured on these subjects and served on several business and nonprofit boards.
He now lives in Seattle, Washington, married to his wife Francesca for more than fifty years, enjoying their four sons and their families, and above all their eleven grandchildren who give special meaning to their lives.
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