Confidante of 'tyrants' : the inside story of the American woman trusted by the US's biggest enemies

When US lawyer Eva Golinger first spent some time in Venezuela uncovering her ancestral roots, she little realized how the country was going to change her life. Within a few years she had become an enthusiast for the Bolivarian Revolution and a close confidante of its charismatic leader, Hugo Chávez. She achieved worldwide notoriety by exposing and condemning US intervention in Venezuela and ended up travelling with Chávez all over the world, spending time with many other controversial leaders. In this frank and disarming memoir, she tells the full story of her time in Chávez’s inner circle and reflects on what she has learned about revolutionary politics, about the dangers of authoritarian populism – and about herself. Confidante of Tyrants is told from a very personal, intimate, insider perspective of what it's like to be an American woman who was drawn to a movement pledging to fight for social justice with a very charismatic leader. Eva was behind the scenes of global power. She wandered the halls of presidential palaces, rubbed elbows with controversial world leaders, and was courted by declared enemies of her own country. She would come to know and even befriend some of these men, who so many in the world saw as tyrants. She saw them unveiled and had privileged access to Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Vladimir Putin, Bashar al Assad, Muammar Gaddafi, Julian Assange and other vilified strongmen and U.S. enemies. She was a witness to their capacity to garner the attention and support of millions, and saw how they used it to create and expand their power. The Equality Effect is almost magical. In more equal countries, human beings are generally happier and healthier, there is less crime, more creativity and higher educational attainment. Danny Dorling delivers all evidence that is now so overwhelming that it should be changing politics and society all over the world. For the past four decades, many countries, including the US and the UK, have chosen the path to greater inequality on the assumption that there is no alternative. Yet even under globalization, other nations continue to take a different road. The time will come when The Equality Effect will be as readily accepted as women voting or former colonies gaining independence--and it will come very soon. From one of the world's top social scientists comes a compelling argument for public policy to prioritize equality, fully-evidenced with statistics and sprinkled with black and white illustrations. Most importantly, he demonstrates where greater equality is currently to be found, and how we can set The Equality Effect in motion everywhere. Danny Dorling is a social geographer and the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford. His work concerns issues of housing, health, employment, education and poverty. He has written extensively about the widening gap between rich and poor and his work regularly appears in the media. He is author The No-Nonsense Guide to Equality; The Atlas of the Real World; Unequal Health; Inequality and the 1%, and Injustice: Why social inequalities persist. His views are often sought by policy makers The Equality Effect Is Almost Magical. In More Equal Countries, Human Beings Are Generally Happier And Healthier, There Is Less Crime, More Creativity And Higher Educational Attainment. Danny Dorling Delivers All Evidence That Is Now So Overwhelming That It Should Be Changing Politics And Society All Over The World. For The Past Four Decades, Many Countries, Including The Us And The Uk, Have Chosen The Path To Greater Inequality On The Assumption That There Is No Alternative. Yet Even Under Globalization, Other Nations Continue To Take A Different Road. The Time Will Come When The Equality Effect Will Be As Readily Accepted As Women Voting Or Former Colonies Gaining Independence--and It Will Come Very Soon. From One Of The World's Top Social Scientists Comes A Compelling Argument For Public Policy To Prioritize Equality, Fully-evidenced With Statistics And Sprinkled With Black And White Illustrations. Most Importantly, He Demonstrates Where Greater Equality Is Currently To Be Found, And How We Can Set The Equality Effect In Motion Everywhere.-- Danny Dorling ; Illustrations By Ella Furness ; Foreword By Owen Jones. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Equality Effect is almost magical. In more equal countries, human beings are generally happier and healthier, there is less crime, more creativity and higher educational attainment. Danny Dorling delivers all evidence that is now so overwhelming that it should be changing politics and society all over the world. For the past four decades, many countries, including the US and the UK, have chosen the path to greater inequality on the assumption that there is no alternative. Yet even under globalization, other nations continue to take a different road. The time will come when The Equality Effect will be as readily accepted as women voting or former colonies gaining independence--and it will come very soon. From one of the world's top social scientists comes a compelling argument for public policy to prioritize equality, fully-evidenced with statistics and sprinkled with black and white illustrations. Most importantly, he demonstrates where greater equality is currently to be found, and how we can set The Equality Effect in motion everywhere.-- Provided by Publisher ""I had breakfast with Hugo Chavez, lunch with Bashar al Assad, cocktails with Putin and dinner with Gaddafi. Fidel Castro wooed me with flowers, perfume and cigars. Ahmadinejad told me he loved me. Chavez proclaimed me 'The Girlfriend of Venezuela'. But I am not a spy, and I am not a traitor.""