Autocracy as we understand it today is a modern creation. I think there we see very few successful examples of modern autocracies that are able to sustain themselves.Shadi HamidAccess Bonus Episodes on PatreonMake a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox.A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.Shadi Hamid is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, a columnist and editorial board member at The Washington Post, and a co-host of the podcast The Wisdom of Crowds. His most recent book is The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea.Key HighlightsIntroduction - 0:32The Problem of Democracy - 2:25Islamism - 5:51Turkey - 22:47Autocratic Rulers - 32:20Key LinksThe Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea by Shadi HamidFollow Shadi Hamid on Twitter @shadihamidWisdom of CrowdsDemocracy Paradox PodcastRobert Kaplan on the Politics of the Past and Future of the Greater Middle EastSteven Simon on American Foreign Policy in the Middle East including Iran and the Wars in IraqMore Episodes from the PodcastMore InformationApes of the State created all MusicEmail the show at jkempf@democracyparadox.comFollow on Twitter @DemParadox, Facebook, Instagram @democracyparadoxpodcast100 Books on DemocracySupport the show