ETA: It’s not a mysterious empirical fact that benevolent dictators don’t exist. Where is there a ready supply of people who don’t get corrupted by absolute power? How do you test that in advance? Why would someone who has enjoyed untrammelled power for a certain period meekly hand back the keys?
Benevolent dictators are the magic wands of political science. They have every advantage except actually existing.
ETA: It’s not a mysterious empirical fact that benevolent dictators don’t exist. Where is there a ready supply of people who don’t get corrupted by absolute power? How do you test that in advance? Why would someone who has enjoyed untrammelled power for a certain period meekly hand back the keys?
Benevolent dictators are the magic wands of political science. They have every advantage except actually existing.