Authoritarian Rule: When is it worth it?

[skadistic]

Its worth it when your the one in charge.

 

[Dann]

Chiang Kai Shek, Republic of China. In 1962, per capita GNP was only $170, about equal to that of the Congo. By 1997, GNP per capita had reached $19,000.

I think you meant his son, Chiang Jing Guo. The elder Chiang cared nothing for Taiwan, merely looking upon it as a temporary base to build up strength and reconquer the mainland.

Besides, Chiang Kai Shek died in the 1970s. It was under Chiang Jing Guo where the Republic of China made those great strides in its economy. Personally I think the younger Chiang was the best president Taiwan has ever had. Even better than the democratic but corrupt Lee Teng Hui who followed him and today's democratic but inefficient Chen Shui Bian.

 

[History_Buff]

Dictatorship is worth it when you can be sure that the dictator will be benevolent, and that a democratic style will be reinstated when this dictator removes himself from office/dies, OR when the survival of the social group (city, country, species) can be assured only through autocratic means.

 

[amadeus]

I meant Chiang Kai Shek. The 10% average growth rate started under his rule in the 1960s.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

In Yugoslavia it worked out well.
Until Tito died...

 

[Dann]

I meant Chiang Kai Shek. The 10% average growth rate started under his rule in the 1960s.

Well 1960s Taiwan would certainly look good compared to the hell that the mainland was going through then.

I visited Taiwan in 1982. It still wasn't that particularly impressive then. The real growth came in the 1980s, the same time as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. After his death.

I'm not belittling the man. To his credit under him Taiwan enjoyed the very best peace and order she ever had. Things have never been the same afterwards. He just wasn't as good with boosting economics as his son.

 

[trada]

I personally believe there will one day be a one-world dictator. Everybody will love him, even maybe you who is reading this. But he will be the great deciever and in the end will be your downfall if you take his mark.

Yeah, I'm a religious nut but I urge you to seek the real truth when one comes to take the throne of the world. He will certainly seem like a good guy but really he will prove once and for all that authoritarian rule is ugly.

 

[Tee Kay]

Authoritarian rule is only acceptable when a nation is on the verge of collapse AND if the person ruling can change his/her country for the better.

 

[BasketCase]

In a world where most of the citizens disagree on what constitutes "better", the only way to determine whether a dictator is doing a good job (or changing the country for the better or however else you want to put it) is to poll the citizens.

Authoritarian rule doesn't cut the mustard. Period.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Nah, we should have an AI take care of the world.

 

[Shaihulud]

I like one word used to describe authoritarian leaders "strong man".

 

[silver 2039]

Autocrats should rule as Plato felt Philospher-Kings, the most educated, wise, enlightened, altrustic, rulers that should ruler because they know what is best for society in general. Such Philopsoher-Kings would be the best form of rulers, unfourtnatley such a magnficent ruler is impossible most of the time but occasionaly we do get such men who seek only the betterment of their own country and people. (Though in the modern world they should want to benefit humanity at large)

 

[Sidhe]

Never unless, someone who is wise benevolent, intelligent, compassionate and honest is in power. Now since there's only one person I know that fits those criteria and that is me and I have no lust for power there is no chance it'll work in modern society.

If you can point out any countries that are benifiting from a totalitarian dictatorship I'd love to know them, it's a stop gap measure at best surely? Then your inbred ****** of a son gets into power and everything goes the way of the pear.

 

[amadeus]

Well 1960s Taiwan would certainly look good compared to the hell that the mainland was going through then.

I visited Taiwan in 1982. It still wasn't that particularly impressive then. The real growth came in the 1980s, the same time as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. After his death.

I'm not belittling the man. To his credit under him Taiwan enjoyed the very best peace and order she ever had. Things have never been the same afterwards. He just wasn't as good with boosting economics as his son.

I'm not saying Chiang should be credited with the growth after his death, but I think he put in place the infrastructure (physically and politically) for that growth to happen.

 

[The Omega]

Dictatorship is only acceptable when I'm in charge. Or when the guy in charge gives me lots of money. Oh, and him being nice to everyone else and not crushing human rights would be a nice bonus.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Dictatorship is never worth it. Even if beneficial, when the charasmatic leader dies generally the country plunges into disorder again.

A quick look through history I can come up with a few
Augustus (The workaholic emperor)
Justinaine (Reversed the decline of Byzatine empire)
Alexander (Hellenised the Med)

 

[silver 2039]

Justinaine (Reversed the decline of Byzatine empire)

No he simply overxtended it and squandered its wealth and power leaving it unable to hold on to its massive gains.

Alexander (Hellenised the Med)

The Leavnt actually. The Mediterrenan was Hellenized during the establishment of the Greek colonies in various areas inculding Spain, Southern Gaul. Black Sea, Sicily, Southern Italy, etc...

 

[FriendlyFire]

No he simply overxtended it and squandered its wealth and power leaving it unable to hold on to its massive gains.



The Leavnt actually. The Mediterrenan was Hellenized during the establishment of the Greek colonies in various areas inculding Spain, Southern Gaul. Black Sea, Sicily, Southern Italy, etc...

I would say that was the fault of hes predessors (Consitiane 5th etc)
The recovery of the richest art of the Byztine empire egypt was a mjor success. Plus prior to the crusades the Persians made no attempts to convet the mainly christain populations whom welcomed bzytine as there liberator.

I think Alexander has to take credit for being down the persian empire allowing the hellensitic culture to flow into the vacume. Also after hes death there was such a massive "emulation" of everything greek.

 

[Tulkas12]

In general dictatorships are unavoidable till a middle class is firmly established. Imo it is not an evil, but a neccesary part of the development of a nation. Best way to establish a fairly strong middle class? A benign dictatorship.

I fera socialism though, because I veiw it as a return to dictatorships, the difference being that it is the dictatorship of a majority and not one man or oligarchy.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Socialism doesn't always need to be dictatorship...
If you are refering to the Soviet Union, now that was a typical olygarchy...