Alastair Smith

Alastair Smith

Alastair Smith is a prominent political scientist and author, currently serving as the Bernhardt Denmark Chair of International Relations at New York University. He is best known for co-authoring The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics (2011) with Bruce Bueno de Mesquita. This influential book challenges conventional views of political leadership, arguing that leaders prioritize their own power and interests over the welfare of their citizens.

Smith’s academic work focuses on political economy and the dynamics of governance, particularly in authoritarian regimes. He has contributed significantly to the development of “selectorate theory,” which examines how the size and composition of a leader’s support coalition impact political behavior and policy decisions.

In addition to his role at NYU, Smith has published numerous articles and essays on political strategy and governance, making him a respected voice in contemporary political discourse. His insights have been featured in various media outlets, enhancing public understanding of the complexities of power and politics.

  • Power, Politics
  • Male
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  • The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
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    By : Alastair SmithBruce Bueno de Mesquita

    The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics

    What if power has less to do with ideology and more to do with cold, ruthless math? The Dictator’s Handbook dismantles the illusions of noble governance, revealing a chillingly pragmatic logic that guides both tyrants and democrats alike. In a world where survival hinges not on serving the people but on satisfying a select few, loyalty is currency and betrayal a tool of the trade. Witty, unflinching, and unsettlingly honest, this book invites readers to peer behind the curtain of leadership—and ask whether virtue ever truly rules. Do leaders shape systems, or do systems shape the leaders we get?

    • Originally Published: September 2011
    • Publisher: PublicAffairs
    • Published: July 31, 2012
    • Genre: Politics
    • Pages: 352
    • Book Type: Hardcopy
    • ISBN: 978-1610391849
    • Access: Members