Bonus - The Oligarch-Authoritarian Bargain w/ Christopher Hartwell (Preview)

Bonus - The Oligarch-Authoritarian Bargain w/ Christopher Hartwell (Preview)

August 24, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

Danny and Derek discuss the consequences of wealthy elites forming alliances with authoritarian regimes with economist Christopher Hartwell.

Subscribe now for the full episode. Danny and Derek speak with economist Christopher Hartwell about how wealthy elites who strike bargains with authoritarians often come to regret it. They discuss oligarchs in post-Soviet Russia, authoritarian state capitalism, Hungary’s break from Orbán, Trump courting tech billionaires, asset-price inflation and financialization, and the durability of state capitalism in China.  Read Christopher’s piece for Foreign Affairs, co-written with Tricia Olsen: “The Disposable Oligarchs.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Daniel Bessner, Derek Davison

Guest: Christopher Hartwell

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Foreign Affairs

Books & works: The Disposable Oligarchs

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