Benevolent dictatorship
A benevolent dictatorship is a government in which an authoritarian leader exercises absolute political power over the state but is perceived to do so with regard for the benefit of the population as a whole. It stands in contrast to the decidedly malevolent stereotype of a dictator, who focuses on their supporters and their own self-interests. A benevolent dictator may allow for some civil liberties or democratic decision-making to exist, such as through public referendums or elected representatives with limited power and can make preparations for a transition to genuine democracy during or after their term.[1][need quotation to verify]
Characteristics
[edit]In the Spanish language, the pun word dictablanda is sometimes used for a dictatorship conserving some of the liberties and mechanisms of democracy. The pun is that, in Spanish, dictadura is "dictatorship", dura is "hard" and blanda is "soft". Analogously, the same pun is made in Portuguese as ditabranda or ditamole. In February 2009, the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo ran an editorial classifying the military dictatorship in Brazil (1964–1985) as a "ditabranda", creating controversy.[2]
Mancur Olson characterized dictators as "not like the wolf that preys on the elk, but more like the rancher who makes sure his cattle are protected and are given water", arguing that they have an incentive to provide public goods at the same time they extract the largest possible surplus for themselves.[3]
Historical example
[edit]Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
[edit]Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was an opponent of the rights of the plebeians (the common citizens) who fell into poverty because of his son Caeso Quinctius's violent opposition to their desire for a written code of equally enforced laws. He worked his own small farm until he was called upon to provide leadership during an invasion by the Aequi, Rome's neighbors to the East. An initial Aequi victory caused panic in Rome, whereupon the Senate voted to appoint Cincinnatus as dictator for six months. A group of senators was sent to Cincinnatus' farm to inform him of his new role, finding him while he was ploughing his farm. On learning of the military reverse, Cincinnatus put on his senatorial toga and went to Rome, where he organized a relief force. Sixteen days later,[4] Cincinnatus's army defeated the Aequi and ended the war. Cincinnatus then gave up his dictatorial powers and returned to his farm. His success and immediate resignation of his near-absolute authority with the end of this crisis (traditionally dated to 458 BC) has often been cited as an example of outstanding leadership, service to the greater good, civic virtue, humility, and modesty.
See also
[edit]- Absolute monarchy
- Benevolent dictator for life (related concept in terms of software)
- Dictablanda
- Democracy indices
- Enlightened absolutism
- Meritocracy
- Philosopher king
- Separation of powers
- Social planner
- Soft despotism
References
[edit]- ^ Roth, Steffen J. (2007). VWL für Einsteiger: eine anwendungsorientierte Einführung (2. Ausgabe) [Economics for beginners: an application-oriented introduction (2nd Edition)] (in German). Lucius & Lucius UTB GmbH. pp. 133–134. ISBN 9783825227425 – via Google Books.
- ^ Ribeiro, Igor (February 25, 2009). "A "ditabranda" da Folha" [The "ditabranda" of Folha] (in Portuguese). Portal Imprensa. Archived from the original on 2012-02-01.
- ^ Olson, Mancur (1993-01-01). "Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development". The American Political Science Review. 87 (3): 567–576. doi:10.2307/2938736. JSTOR 2938736. S2CID 145312307.
- ^ Hillyard, Michael J. (2001). Cincinnatus and the Citizen-Servant Ideal: The Roman Legend's Life, Times, and Legacy. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4628-0465-8 – via Google Books.