Today, more than twenty oligarchs serve as heads of state or government in countries such as Russia, South Africa, Lebanon, and El Salvador. Many have a net worth in excess of $1 billion, and they all – whether directly or indirectly – impact our daily lives.

David Lingelbach (University of Baltimore) and Valentina Rodríguez Guerra (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) discuss their book The Oligarchs’ Grip: Fusing Wealth and Power with Sarah Smith (University of Bristol). Photo Credit: Bhagesh Sachania Photography