The Seven Wonders of the Totalitarian World

"The Seven Wonders of the Totalitarian World" (Esquire):


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Throughout history, it is the deep-pocketed madmen who tend to leave behind the biggest wonders. And while last month's election of the New Seven Wonders of the World hints at this point -- the emperors who fed Christians to the lions in the Roman Coliseum were neither mild-mannered nor impoverished -- they're basically positive tributes to mankind's triumphant, enduring half. But what of the tyranny that drove men to produce such wonders? On some level, each of the New Seven is also a colossal monument to narcissism, either some ruler or some culture's desire to go bigger and leave a mark that cannot be erased -- a sentiment not unlike the one held by some of today's most ruthless dictators. With that in mind, we created the following list, celebrating those modern monuments from the totalitarian world that may or may not make it through the next coup. Check them out while you still can.