{"product_id":"9783032351005","title":"The Strongman Spectacle: Populism, Performance, and the Theater of Power — From Mussolini to Trump and Beyond","description":"\u003ch3\u003eMedienkulturen im digitalen Zeitalter\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eThe Strongman Spectacle: Populism, Performance, and the Theater of Power — From Mussolini to Trump and Beyond\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAdebowale Akande\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eSocial Science \/ Media Studies\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Strongman Spectacle: Populism, Performance, and the Theater of Power — From Mussolini to Trump and Beyond\u003c\/em\u003e excavates politics as theater, showing how authoritarian leaders master spectacle from radio and cinema to social media. Strongmen do not simply govern—they perform. Mussolini’s balcony oratory, Reagan’s Hollywood charisma, and Trump’s Twitter theatrics exemplify authority staged and consumed by citizens as spectators. Power becomes inseparable from visibility: the leader as brand, myth, and broadcast. Populism thrives on virality, deploying cinematic tropes, evangelical scripts, and consumerist rituals that collapse governance into entertainment. Trump’s politics of fame and fear hollow democratic institutions, while religion, celebrity, and platforms intensify charisma. Yet spectacle politics is contested terrain. Building on Debord and Kellner, the book situates strongman theatrics within platform capitalism, showing how memes, protests, and parody expose fragility and reclaim visibility for democratic participation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdebowale “Ad” Akande\u003c\/strong\u003e, IR GLOBE Cross‑Cultural Inc., Vancouver, Canada, is a globally recognized scholar whose work spans leadership, culture, ethics, and the spectacle of power. Author of numerous books and more than 250 articles and chapters published in multiple languages, his scholarship has appeared in premier outlets including the \u003cem\u003eAcademy of Management Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eJournal of Personality and Social Psychology\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eJournal of Cross‑Cultural Psychology\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBritish Journal of Social Psychology\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLeadership Quarterly\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eJournal of Business Ethics\u003c\/em\u003e. Collaborating with eminent thinkers such as Douglas Kellner, Susan T. Fiske, Peter Glick, Richard Boyatzis, David Lester, and Robert J. House, Akande’s research interrogates leadership effectiveness, media culture, critical literacy, and the architecture of contemporary power. His contributions with collaborators have been honored with the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, Frank Andrew Award, Schloss Leopoldskron Fellowship, Ursula Gielen Global Book Award, and Gordon W. Allport Prize. Renowned for advancing presidential studies, American politics, and cross‑cultural inquiry, Akande’s editorial vision fosters multidimensional dialogue while his scholarship continues to shape global conversations on sustainability, globalism, and the spectacle of leadership.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e19 September 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpringer Nature Switzerland\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpringer VS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9783032351005\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Springer Nature Switzerland","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51323195916428,"sku":"9783032351005","price":80.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/9783032351005.jpg?v=1783548617","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9783032351005","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}