"The only language Saddam Hussein understands is the language of power. Without this demonstrable willingness to use force, even if the sanctions are biting deeply, Saddam is quite capable of putting his people through a sustained period of hardship...this is the personality configuration of the destructive charismatic, who unifies and rallies his downtrodden supporters by blaming outside enemies."

Dr. Jerrold M. Post's prophetic description of Saddam's likely course of action, written over ten years ago, now rings with a terrible truth. And the Saddam of today, as an anxious world attests, is more than ever the subject of an intense campaign to divine not only his inner mechanisms, but what he might do next.

In this age of personality, the race is on to discover what drives Saddam — as well as Bush, Blair, and bin Laden, among others. "If we want to understand what they do," according to Post, "we had better have useful theories of why they do it."

For the first time in a single volume, Post and his colleagues lay out a system of at-a-distance evaluation, drawing on a variety of disciplines from political psychology to psycholinguistics. This pioneering system of analysis is brought to bear on two case studies — Saddam Hussein and Bill Clinton — providing comprehensive political psychology profiles and a useful response to the volatile circumstances of global affairs.

"Post is a pioneer in the field of political-personality profiling." Jane Mayer, New Yorker

"This work on Hussein and Clinton reveals not only critical psychological variables in the personalities of these leaders, but demonstrates the excellence of personality assessment in modern political psychology." James Glass, University of Maryland

In an age when world affairs are powerfully driven by personality, politics require an understanding of what motivates political leaders such as Hussein, Bush, Blair, and bin Laden. Through exacting case studies and the careful sifting of evidence, Jerrold Post and his team of contributors lay out an effective system of at-a-distance evaluation. Observations from political psychology, psycholinguistics and a range of other disciplines join forces to produce comprehensive political and psychological profiles, and a deeper understanding of the volatile influences of personality on global affairs.

Even in this age of free-flowing global information, capital, and people, sovereign states and boundaries remain the hallmark of the international order — a fact which is especially clear from the events of September 11th and the War on Terrorism.

Jerrold M. Post, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Political Psychology, and International Affairs, and Director of the Political Psychology Program at George Washington University. He is the founder of the CIA's Center for the Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-441) and index.

A nationally recognized expert on the psychology of political leadership, Jerrold M. Post, M.D. is Professor of Psychiatry, Political Psychology, and International Affairs at George Washington University Medical Center. Prior, he worked for the U.S. government, where he founded the Center for the Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior.