Balkan Strongmen

Authoritarian leaders such as Enver Hoxha, Todor Zhivkov, Tito and Slobodan Milosevic are part of a time-honoured tradition of Balkan dictatorship that saw the domination of some of the most colourful but also brutal leaders of twentieth century, among them the wartime Croatian fascist Ante Pavlevic and Nicolae Ceausescu. Royal absolutists from the interwar period-Zog of Albania, Alexander of Yugoslavia and Carol II of Romania-and the Greek General Metaxas (1930s) and Colonel Papadopoulos (1967-74) are included. This book brings these and lesser-known 'strongmen' to life, providing fascinating insights into the personalities and examining political oppression, the cult of personality and the historical impact of dictatorship on South-Eastern Europe.