Is your country at risk of becoming a dictatorship? Here's how to know | Farida Nabourema

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4.1 • 11.9K Ratings

🗓️ 28 February 2019

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Farida Nabourema has dedicated her life to fighting the military regime in Togo, Africa's oldest autocracy. She's learned two truths along the way: no country is destined to be oppressed -- and no country is immune to dictatorship. But how can you tell if you're at risk before it happens? In a stirring talk, Nabourema shares the four key signs of a dictatorship, along with the secret to defiance for those living within an oppressive system.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This TED Talk features democracy activist Farida Neborema, recorded live at TED Women 2018.
0:10.2	A few weeks ago, somebody tweeted during the midterms elections in the United States that election day should be made a holiday.
0:19.6	And I ret retreated saying,
0:21.3	well, you're welcome to come to my country and vote.
0:23.6	You'll get the whole week off to allow the military counted.
0:27.6	I come from Togo, by the way.
0:29.2	It is a beautiful country located in West Africa,
0:32.5	but there are some cool, interesting facts about my country.
0:36.5	Togo has been ruled by the same family for 51 years,
0:39.3	making us the oldest autocracy in Africa.
0:43.3	That's a record.
0:44.3	We have a second cooler record.
0:46.3	We have been ranked three times as the unhappiest country on Earth.
0:50.3	You're all invited.
0:53.3	So just to let you know, it's not very cool to live under autocracy.
0:58.3	But the interesting thing is that I have met through the course of my activism,
1:01.9	so many people from different countries.
1:03.5	And when I tell them about Togo, the reaction is always,
1:06.9	how can you guys allow the same people to terrorize you for 51 years?
1:11.2	You know, like you do the Togolese, you must be very patient.
1:14.0	That's their diplomatic way of saying stupid.
1:17.5	You know, and when you live in a free country,
	...

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