Rising from the Swamp: The Philosophical Implications of the Dictator Novel

Abstract

This thesis explores relationships between the modern Latin American dictator novel and the Western philosophical tradition. The dictator novel, as this thesis demonstrates, is a valuable tool for understanding authoritarian political systems as they have evolved in the West and as they have generated new literary forms. The twofold aim of the thesis is to show that 1) a text need not be “European” to contribute meaningfully to philosophical discourses addressing the politics of absolute power, and 2) that literary texts can amplify and distill philosophical debates on authoritarianism in productive ways. The recent trend toward authoritarianism worldwide has made thinking about the dictator novel more relevant, especially as democratic countries experience increasingly outward displays of authoritarianism tied to elite and oligarchic self-interest.