Taking a closer look at the modern worldwide phenomenon of oligarchical power and what it portends, University of Baltimore Prof. David Lingelbach and his co-author, Valentina Rodríguez Guerra, have published a second book on the topic, called Games Without Thrones: 8 Leadership Lessons from Oligarchs. It's the follow-up to their 2023 deep dive into the subject, The Oligarchs' Grip. Prof. Lingelbach teaches entrepreneurship at UBalt, while Rodriguez Guerra is the founding executive director of The Center for the Study of Oligarchs, which is based between Los Angeles and Bogotá, Colombia.
The pair's new book is spotlighted in The Financial Times, which provides important context for the subject and the need for further exploration:
"While the term oligarch will for many primarily evoke the individuals who enriched themselves during the sweeping privatisations of post-Soviet Russia, there are many—among them the authors—who argue there is now an established American version whose fortunes were made on Wall Street and Silicon Valley," The Financial Times says. "In his outgoing address, former U.S. president Joe Biden warned that 'an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence.'"
As Prof. Lingelbach puts it, "This is a very uninspected part of human behaviour. We wanted to be clear that oligarchy is not a Russian phenomenon."
Takeaways from Games Without Thrones form a powerful portrait of modern life: Oligarchs, as the authors describe them, are "uncertainty navigators." Logically, they say, it's best not to follow an oligarchical path in trying to predict the future. Instead, consider ways to ensure that a big miscalculation in one part of life doesn't wreak havoc in another.
"This is no crass how-to guide drawing inspiration from some of the world's most divisive characters," The Financial Times says. "'The lessons ... are not inspirational,' the authors stress. 'They are not comforting. And they are not designed to make you feel better about the world.'"
It's actually fairly straightforward: Find ideas and positions that can be useful to you and the things you care about. Don't swoon over extremes of wealth and influence.
"We can actually learn from the bad guys," the authors say.
Read about Games Without Thrones in The Financial Times (subscription required).
Learn more about Prof. David Lingelbach and the Merrick School of Business.