Netflix’s How to Become a Tyrant is like a YouTube manual

New series ‘How to be a tyrant’ reminds us that the alternatives to democracy aren’t as appealing as we might think.

Idi Amin was nicknamed “Big Daddy” or “the gentle giant”, before he revealed his true nature, which resulted in the disappearances of approximately 300,000 Ugandans. AP

John McDonald

Jul 16, 2021 – 1.50pm

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Politics is a fascinating game, but hard to win. Under the yoke of a tyrant, people clamour for democracy but after generations of democratic rule they hanker for a strongman to come and make all their decisions for them.

As we watch the United States careening towards a complete crack-up, with millions of people obsessed with conspiracy theories, bristling with murderous hatred of their political opponents, there couldn’t be a better time for a TV series such as How to Become a Tyrant.