My grandmother lived half of her life during the Estado Novo regime in Portugal. She was a lower middle class hairdresser with no particular political opinions and without any family members called to the colonial wars. My younger brother asked her about her experience during the 25th of April revolution that brougth democracy to Portugal (for a school project for the 50th aniversary of the revolution), and her answer was that she didnt noticed any particular change.
@@here_we_go_again2571that’s unfortunately a damning, yet accurate statement towards democracy. Be it in the US, UK, much of the EU membership countries, Canada, et al, it’s no wonder the “mainstream” political parties are losing popularity outside of the cities (not to mention the not so well off populations) and populism has been on the rise as of late. I’ve traveled a fair bit at this point, and it seems quite common now that people are increasingly feeling ignored in their own countries at an increasing rate for a long time now. I worry where the end point might lead if the situation isn’t remedied and the lower classes and rural people don’t end up feeling heard and served as much as their middle/higher classes and urbanite countrymen. Resentment seems to be building more and more.
@@forsociopoliticalstuff2629 It isn't going to get better and neither Socialism, the WEF or the Islamists who claim that they have a beneficial solution have one.
@@yzfool6639 W.E.F. are Fascists. Those like George Soros want businesses to control governments and the governments to provide Socialist (social welfare) goodies. Bankers love Socialism if they can make money off it. Fascism is not "right" it is of the "left" (but right of Communism) Right v. Left isn't very useful in this era. Islamism is about as far right as one can get; but they have alliances with the political Left. Why? They have a common enemy: Western civilization/culture that was formed by Christianity and the traditional family (patriarchy)
In reality democracy is unachievable, just like how pure communism is only available in the higher world, because as humans our governments will stabilize in autocracy/plutocracy, and then people would create new labels for the cycle to start again.
Mussalini did not need to actually made the trains run on time. He needed just to made peple think he did. And to this day people believe he did. And Huttler built the Autobahns and whatnot.
@@richardaubrecht2822he built most Autobahns tough. The myth was that he invented it, which is obviously wrong, but a large part of the Autobahnen was built by the Nazis
@@Etzelsschizo The Autobahn was created not for the people, but for the military. It allowed the fast transport of tanks and trucks across the nation. The Generals remembered that the one thing that didn't allow them to take quick advantage of the end of the Eastern Front war was transporting all the material and troops to the Western Front. It's why Eisenhower created the Interstate system in the US: not for us to travel, but for the military to do so. Tanks and trucks in large numbers move faster on roads than on trains.
Something Mussolini did was lockup the mafia. Italy before was like El Salvador recent problems, he was popular because mass incarcerated all the criminals just like Bukele has done.
You failed to mention Singapore. The most successful authoritarian regime in modern history, who had the best education system, the best housing program, one of the least corrupt nation, the lowest crime rates, one of the highest percapita income, one of the most developed and sophisticated, one of the most technologically advanced, the cleanest, one of the most peaceful, one of the friendliest to do business for foreign investors. The secret...? Lee Kuan Yew who lay the foundation from the very start to make sure his new nation can last as long as possible and prosper as best as possible by not too strict, absolute zero tolerance to corruption, rule of law that works best for the society and make sure all of them follow, provide the best possible means of anything for the people, religious, social, and ethnic harmony, friendly to do business for foreign investors, be pragmatic and flexible, and at last...do what's worked and abandoned what's doesn't.
@@Novastar.SaberCombat Right? A horrible, repressive regime... their sin? They don't tolerate corruption and they insist on rule of law. Threaten me with a good time why don't ya.
@trevornewton2646 you know people of those countries have lost everything in the name of democracy right? It was never about democracy 🙄 it was about stealing the resources...
@@princebond No democracy is real democracy. Once the absolute majority inevitably elects a big name with no honesty behind it, the endless sabotage begins.
So true!!! I also feel like it's by far the most important one because it helps unbiasely explain often current issues and events that people need to be more aware of.
@@badluck5647 Infant mortality is still very much traditional in much of the world. The point is, regardless of how many new shiny gadgets we might have invented, we're still the same people we've always been for all of recorded history. Democracy is no new invention, and by looking at past democracies we can surmise where we're headed in the near future.
In democracy, you can also complain and disappear next day. It's just the context of the complain that usually pretty silly in autocracy, but in democracy people advocating justice could still easily be persecuted if they don't benefit the government. Take a look at Julian Assange or Edward Snowden. In conclusion democracy and autocracy in real life is basically on the same line, it's just democracy has bigger threshold and more "objective".
@@definitelyhuman4510 Our stance is that Assange decided to sit out a fairly mundane sexual misconduct charge for much longer than his eventual sentence would have been.
I'll never forget being taught in high school about Benito Mussolini. "He was known for getting the trains running on time; by killing those who didn't." Never mind the man's many other atrocities, that was one hell of an introduction to him for me.
This describes the Zimbabwean situation so accurately, the citizenry has pretty much given up and some are even begrudgingly joining the ruling party they hate just for the small perks
If you can find some of these places on a map you're smarter then 90% of people when it comes to Geopolitics. Most Europeans I've talked to arent even aware of all the shady shit the UK, France, Russia, and various Arab powers get up to in Africa to this day including France's whole neocolonial empire that never really went away. Plenty of Americans are barely aware of world events the US isn't directly and overtly involved in. Half the shady shit Russia and China are up to is almost entirely unknown. Africa and South America may as well not exist for how little people outside of those areas know about them.
@@arthas640To add to your point, ironically South Africa is super influential and strong, but many people barely know their existence. Countries like that must love this fact soo much. Being powerful, without being heard off much.
@@dimitriskaryamis yeah people tend to forget they were and still mostly are THE preeminent African power and only recently has Egypt and Nigeria caught up, and they mainly do that thanks to much larger populations. South Africa could rather easily approach Europe in terms of quality of life if not for the corruption and inequality since they've got insane amounts of natural resources and plenty of well educated people. One of my favorite examples of their hidden skills is their military: tons of former apartheid era soldiers became top tier mercenaries and when the US was looking for new IFVs and urban warfare vehicles they ended up buying South African MRAPs and the CIA even used a special aircraft designed by South Africa because it was great for fighting insurgents
As a Venezuelan... i would say... that the main fuel for sympathy toward dictatorship is the impunity and privilege A democracy is a system that allows multiple spheres of power between their citizens and check balances in exchange of individuals duties ... sadly, when a part of the citizens realizes that they can get privileges and impunity for their "small and tiny daily corruptions" (bribe, tax evasion, etc) by supporting a regime change or a dictator.... then the game is over for the country in a long term (Lebanon, Venezuela, Serbia, Hungary, Pakistan, Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia) Also we have the case when a part of the population cant stand the other part of the population, so they support the dictatorship to eliminate or subjugate the another part of the population because for them, considering the other part as equals is a offence or even worse (Iran, Russia, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Myanmar) And dictators know that very well... that's why they love to create an enemy/enemies for the propaganda and give privileges to certain groups for the status quo.
That sums it up pretty well and also explains what sentiments can be successfully targeted by propaganda. We laugh at it rn (dumb Russian bots for example) but it is successful *enough* in slowly dividing us. It's not only us being lied to by propaganda, they also show us the reality of our failures (institutions) and possibilities of exploiting each other ("you too can game the system ")that weren't previously as present in the mainstream.
Chavez was pretty popular in his early years and even far into his rule. Maduro is not, he seems like a non-charismatic placeholder for a dead charismatic one.
For a Tyrant there is always this interesting little problem: The more you improve the infrastructure, the more it can be used for purposes you didn't intend. Eventually, one of those purposes will be to assist the transfer of resources and information between rebels. The roads are limited between resource nodes and extraction points for a reason....
I remember what CGP Grey said in his video about rulers - the strongest autocracies are the ones with good natural resources, because they can run a primary economy off of starving peasants, instead of having to risk making people smarter and wealthier.
Mobutu once reproached his neighbor friend Habyarimana against building roads for the people, then when war started he (Mobutu) reminded him that "they're using your roads to get to you"
As I had explained to me while I was in Afghanistan, the loyalty of any population belongs to the most acceptable group that is visibility improving their lives and enforces a predictable, consistent series of expectations. If you can be sufficiently better than the othe choices you gain the loyalty of any population and it will only grow as you continue to deliver.
I had a chat with a couple refugee tomato farmers who liked the old communist government. Not because they were die-hard communists, but because the cops worked.
Aristotle identified the character of different political approaches and figured this question out a couple thousand years ago. I recommend researching Aristotle and oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy.
This idiotic sentiment can only come from someone who has never lived in a bona fide dictatorship. The overwhelming majority of people living in fear, getting arrested for criticism of the government, tortured by the secret police if you're unlucky. But also, having no recourse whatsoever when you're being treated unjustly by anyone with ties to the regime, while corruption is everywhere (yes, autocracies tend to be far more corrupt). Ask a Russian or Egyptian dissident which system is better to live under. I have friends from such countries. Despite the many flaws of Western political systems (yes, we're not always tolerant, and it's getting worse on both sides), they're elated about their new found freedom here. You're slandering (I suspect) your own country for the world to see. In China, your post would be removed by censors in no time. Please grow up.
There is a big difference though, a huge one. Yeah in the US you can get in trouble but far, far less. Look back at most cases where a story harmful to the US government got out and you'll trace a ton of the info back to Freedom of Information Act releases: the government hands off those harmful records if you file the right paperwork. A ton of what we know about Iran-Contra, most of what we know about Hoovers abuses of power, the infiltration of the Civil Rights movement by the FBI, most of what we know about Operation Condor and other shady shit the US did in South/Central America, most of what we know about MKULTRA, and some of what we know about Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments were all thanks to Freedom of Information Act releases. Do you think for one second Putin or Xi would make similar releases? When there are whistleblowers similarly the US _might_ arrest the people responsible but just look at Manning his/her whistleblowing: they got convicted of breaking numerous laws and only spent a couple years in jail. When much smaller releases were made by Russians they got brutally poisoned or thrown out of windows or just disappeared in Siberia. The US has a few, small prisons for terrorists and military traitors but they are less then 1% of what China and Russia have and even according to many prisoners the conditions are wildly different. The west have their issues, especially the US, but comparing them to Russia or China is a pretty common Vatnik tactic of "well they're not so different" even though they're proven to be wildly different.
There are so many from which to choose, it's insane. Chump, Escobar, Puton, Shenko, Bolsanerdo, XiXiPi, KJU, Heetlar, "The Muss"(olini), Stahleen, Bankman-Fraud, Theranos chick, Madeoff, Bezoz, 3l0π, etc. Throw a stone in any direction, ya know? 😕
So cull the seniors and encourage teenage motherhood? That surge of youth is what supercharges an economy. Although it didn’t work out so well for aggressively pro-natal Nazi Germany, nor does it seem to serve Subsaharan Africa these days very much.
I don't think you can call Napoleon a tyrant without including the fact he was better than literally every other gross feudal nonsense other countries had at the time. We call him a Tyrant because he lost in the end, not because he was somehow worse than the kings and queens of Europe, quite a bit better, in fact.
Tf?! He slaughtered so many people. The town my dad grew up in was nearly devoid of life after Napoleon's army had rolled through it. The only people who survived had managed to hide somewhere. The town that I grew up in was completely destroyed by Napoleon's army, and the only reason why they were able to rebuild quickly was that there's a medieval castle in the town that no one needed, so the people took stones from there to rebuild. Both towns are in Germany btw, just different parts. He might have brought the code civil(?), but he was still despicable, and trying to defend him is not too much better than defending Hitler. Imagine what Napoleon would've done with the technological capabilities of the Third Reich. Just because French people and apparently some others want to celebrate a mass murderer as a hero doesn't make him one.
I immediatly thought of this quote by Hernan Reyes, the villain from fast 5, when I watched this video. "Look, I would love to expand my operations into your countries but, quite frankly, your business methods are too violent. Let me tell you a true story. Five hundred years ago, the Portuguese and the Spanish came here, each trying to get the country from their natives. The Spaniards arrived, guns blazing, determined to prove who was boss. The natives killed every single Spaniard. Personally, I prefer the methods of the Portuguese. They came bearing gifts. Mirrors, scissors, trinkets. Things that the natives couldn't get on their own, but to continue receiving them, they had to work for the Portuguese. And that's why all Brazilians speak Portuguese today. Now, if you dominate the people with violence, they will eventually fight back because they have nothing to lose. And that's the key. I go into the favelas and give them something to lose. Electricity, running water, school rooms for their kids. And for that taste of a better life, I own them."
The Dutch bought Manhattan island for $24 in Trinkets (mirrors, glass beads) But once the word got out about trade goods; the N.A. wanted steel hatchets, and later guns (cast iron cooking pots were also very popular) As the Delaware/ Lenape became the middlemen for the Dutch fur trade. Later the Algonquin people (Quebec) and the Huron-Wendat served this role for the French The Iroquois and later the Shawnee and others fulfilled this role for the British.
you sound smart, but Israelis constantly tried this strategy with Palestinians not even to take over just to make peace. but the disgusting ideology of Hamas the Islamic Jihad and all those other organizations remains the rule. the Israeli shift to the right is only recent because those things were proven to not work over and over again.
The same happened in russia in 1999, sadly. Putin promised so much at his election, like becoming a part of EU, upping the ruble price, european quality of life level, etc etc, people believed him, and then the oil n gas trade played him good and people became sure putin is the guy to rule russia. Need i say what happened instead of what he promised?....
yeah, the old "one hand with bread, the other hand iron fist"method, if the tyrants are short of goodwill and/or resource, just iron fist still do. like sun tzu so sagely said, "heart and mind" means "keep the credible threat of two bullets to center mass and one bullet to the dome". i am a unemployed working-age chinese male, i do know what i am talking about
I feel like videos like this are important to put out along the videos of current events to emphasize the importance that everything is a massive spectrum of possibilities that isn’t just binary as most imagine things to be especially in the conversation of autocracy and authoritarianism.
Honestly, perhaps the wisest move of a dictator or such would be to know when to bow out. “I improved your infrastructure, built you roads, gave you clean water, etc! You’re welcome, goodbye as I enjoy retirement!” If there is a popular revolt, it’s the next guy’s problem. Imagine if Hitler didn’t start any wars after the Sudetenland or such. Or if Qaddafi didn’t push his luck during the Arab Spring (or retired well before that period). Imagine if Putin just retired before starting the war with Ukraine. In all three of these cases, they would have been, at least more or less, fondly remembered by their people if not the entire world. Hell, imagine if Kim Jong Un secured trade relations and development aid from the West or something, then just says mission accomplished and leaves. Your average North Korean would be jubilant at Dear Leader’s gracious benevolence and would feel Kim’s retirement is well earned. Whatever happens after isn’t his problem, and may even see him warmly welcomed back. So often they push the envelope into utter disaster, though.
Power can corrupt, but in most cases, it just reveals the monster beneath. Once you get a taste, it's more addictive than the sweetest wine, or the strongest heroin.
I think another part of why people seem almost afraid to remove dictators is the, not entirely unjustified, fear that they may be replacing the mildly annoyed tiger with another, more violently erratic tiger with a taste for human flesh.
I've been to Ethiopia a couple of times. I've never met anyone who didn't despise the Derg. But I have met people who point out that they got rid of the feudal landlords, promoted literacy, etc. One person, who was very glad they were gone, still said, "It seems like they were more for the people than Selassie or the current government."
There is a saying among us Germans: "The one good thing the small bearded Austrian did, was building the Autobahn Network" not saying, that how & why he did it was right, but you just cant deny the benfits of well-paved Roads !
That's exactly the type statement the world expects from the country that gave us Nazism and has never fought for anything but themselves. Yes, Germany, this is sadly what we have come to expect from you. Evil.
Simon, you left out one very important Geopolitical problem. Its 'A China Problem' that the USA has because China has won the hearts and minds of the African Continent by helping them improve their roads and infrastructure, something that the US did little of. Its considered a 'semi-serious' problem because oh how Africa will ally with China or USA on a global war. Africa however does not want to piss anyone off and will not move the needle to either country and will allow 'passage' through the country. Arguably India has been considered also a country that does not want to piss anyone off and wants to be friends with everyone, they are on the list to be the next Hegemony.
India wants to remain a hegemony while China is actively taking a part of a state. A part where you could just go and shoot a movie is no longer a part of our country. And what did our Prime Minister have to say wrt this? No one has entered or is trying to enter. If you read up on Galwan Valley, you'll know exactly what I am talking about. Even after all this while imports from China are at an exponential high. We are importing more from China than exporting to them. This was not supposed to happen. In the run up to the General Elections in 2014, then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, famously said he would show a red eye to China (basically meaning to stand firm). A few months before, India's Foreign Minsiter Dr. S Jaishankar went on record saying India can never catch up with China. While the Indian Government is being busy playing coy with Beijing, inside the country it's ruling party (the BJP) is spreading loads of money in a campaign that we are going to be the fifth largest economy, we are getting infrastructure like expressways and new train sets. Classic Good Old Dictatorial horsecrap.
That's because for the most part Africans still are waiting for the day we can actually control our own resources and future. What happens here in Africa really shouldn't be the concern of the USA or China, but alas we are burdened with having a vast amount of resources the first world needs in order to prop up their fictitious ideas of supremacy and importance.
At the end of the day, if you have gone through so much in your life (ex: devastating war and provocation in South Korea), you end up wanting stability rather than political freedom (dictators after the war)
When we first invented divine authority (kings and priests) and the possession of things (wealth), we elevated One Percent of humanity over the other Ninety-nine Percent. Ever since then, the One Percent has treated the Ninety-nine Percent the same way that snakes treat mice.
The recipe of tyranny 1. Repeat the lie endlessly until the people accept it as truth (follow the 'Golden Path' or perish) 2. Use fear and horror (counter-insurgency methods, deprivation or starvation) to quell opposition / Blame all problems and shortcomings on real or imagined enemies (generalized paranoia is ideal) / Reward those who cooperate and promote fanaticism / Forbid and criminalize freedom of consciousness, free speech and rational thinking 3. Encourage people to inform on one another (real guilt is not required only purging matters) 4. Repeat
@@kkloikok Sadly, the 'progressive' branch of this party uses 'soft' versions of these totalitarian methods (ex: denounce, shame, cancel and re-educate opponents) but, to be fair, they're not the only ones to do so in Western society
@@kkloikokhave you....not seen what the right wing playbook is? Fearmongering and false flags are literally their bread and butter, don't let them fool you
For those of us who know the hells of tyranny , whether personally or from the stories our parents told us, must help ensure these stories do not get repeated in our new home.
Yep! The great man-made river, increasing education and healthcare access, support for increases African unity, etc. Better off with him than without him for sure.
@@daddsim the average life of a Libyan was very prosperous, subsidized housing,0% interest on loans,cash incentives for marriage,all these readily available because of a small population and huge nationalised oil wealth, basically an average oil rich Arab nation with socialism rather than an islamist monarchy.Libya today has a thriving slave market, terrorists on every block,one of its largest city Benghazi reduced to rubble by the defenders of freedom and democracy NATO,the country split by warring parties on a violent stalemate.The life of an average Libyan today is far worse and a far cry from the prosperity they enjoyed under their corrupt and brutal dictator.
@@JIJCrow Also South Africa was better under Ap*rtheid. Back then, we had electricity, healthy and facilities. Now, we have crime, violence and poverty.
@@DinoBryce You realise Apartheid had been declared by the whole world as a crime against Humanity?If you're white then you may be right speaking on behalf of your white counterparts,it was not your humanity that Apartheid was being criminal towards
"What have the Romans ever done for us? Apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”
The Greeks did wine and education, the Egyptians (and probably more so the Assyrians) gave us irrigation, public order was established the second Hellenic and Assyrian city-states appeared, and roads were only improved upon by the Romans after the Persians invented them They usually just improved things that already existed, we were given most things by the Bronze Age civilizations, not the Romans.
as an Indian i agree that modi is a bit different than other leaders but i assure you he is not in any way a dictator we want him because he has brought in a lot of development i have personally seen this development in my hometown Varanasi (that is where he ran from) roads electricity cleanliness and after the latest ganga ghat project the no. of tourists coming in has increased by almost 200% i went back there to visit my grandma and the place has changed astronomically also there are new airports and train stations everything has changed i currently live in mumbai and a metro line has started which will be fully functional in a year or so this was done by modi too so we vote for modi cause he is the only one who is actually doing anything congress is a scam and corrupt indian politics will always have hindu muslim problems but we live together peacefully
Why would he? He spouts western neoliberal talking points in his vids. Kissinger was the epitome of western neoliberal violence. He prefers making videos of genocide denial when it comes to the Palestinians.
In the Philippines, we call this the Edifice Complex. The Marcos Dictatorship of 1972-1986 is revered by many Filipinos as the "Golden Era" simply because there were a lot of infrastructure that was completed during their regime. "Nevermind the crippling debts, the built roads"- stupid reasoning of those who ignorantly believed such.
Kagame doesn't get the credit he deserves for a) ending the genocide, b) reuniting the country and doing a lot to heal ethnic tensions, c) greatly improving life for all Rwandans regardless of ethnicity. That is a heroic arc. Rwanda is on the right path to become a stable, middle income, developed nation, but you can't rush it.
@@colinm5545 Village Rwandans are worse off than their parents in the previous government, their former farms now plantations which they squat on. And most infrastructure was built by the dictatorship before his.
If you really think the BJP led Government in India qualifies as tyrannical, you really have no idea of Indian polity. Or the previous regime led by the Congress. A cabal of top leaders led by the Congress party supremo formed a council that placed itself above the Prime Minister's Office! And dictated what decisions the PM should make! I take it the makers of this video think that such an apparatus set up by the Congress to subvert India's highest political office, is absolutely democratic! 😒
Yeh he just same western type who just hate modi govt refer as far right facist even though they lose majority from election in 3 term it true modi little bit authorian not as autocrate but congress is okey party they also corrupt and dynastic party who know maintain rule the country not destroy economy due to socialist scheme and reservation and having anti capitalist stance
People want to eat, to be safe, and for the trains to run on time. If you can do that better than what they had, they don't care what you do. In Russia, as long as you don't come out against Putin, you have the same freedom you would have here. In China, support the CCP and you can have the success you would in most other Western nations, plus a superior infrastructure and education system, especially compared to the US. Yes, certain rights, especially regarding LGBTQ+ rights, are at times horrendous; but guess what? Most people around the WORLD don't share the opinions that are shared in Western nations. Hell, half the people in Western nations don't share those opinions on LGBTQ+ rights. For the vast majority of populations, they don't care, as long as it is better now than it was before. Remember, a certain German dictator was able to become the worst despot in history, and have the support of his people, because he created jobs, got people fed, made their country respected and even, prior to 1939, admired, and got the trains to run on time. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been in power for 4 years, much less till 1945. And yes, the vast majority of Germans supported him till the end.
Warlords/terrorists: "You're welcome citizens, we paved the road." Citizens: "We don't have clean water, we live in mud huts with scrap metal for roofs & we barely have food... thanks for nothing!"
ISIS: We've fixed the pot-holes. Me: That's great, but it doesn't off-set the morality police and the oppression of women and anyone who's not Sunni-Muslim.
@@nolongerblocked6210 most authoritarian regimes that survived long enough was actually very into massive housing projects " Those left with nothing afraid to loose become rebels" a ruling class saying from my country
@Kaltagstar96 The sunnis had been getting oppressed by the Shias for at least a decade when ISIS rose. When Sadam fell a majority Shia government immediately began oppressing them. Of course in Sadams time the Shias were oppressed. It goes round and round.
Uyimenemene, Simon! What about Nayib Bukele and Lee Kwan Yu? If you were completely neutral, you would have mentioned those heads of state. We all know that there is no such thing as a clean politician. Whether they're Liberal or despotic.
@@SkunkApe407 already did, but you said i was wrong. Burden of convincing is on you. Machiavelli would be a trifle saddened by you. Im terribly sorry you were fed crayons during your formative years.
" but they build roads" title is hitting home hard since it's a common thing to hear boomers say about the 1967 - 74 far right military junta in Greece 😏 Also an aspect that we can't ignore is that those regimes found supporters among the population that they usually oppress or use as cattle because the previous situation was either a total failure or completely collapsed An other example again from Greece is the areas under communist control during ww2 The partisan leaders was often discrabed as " medieval warlords" like using wips made of barwire and executing people for the slightest offense But even they looked as a good alternative in comparison with the occupation forces and the previous regime I mean imagine the amount of miss management it takes for people to see technically a dark ages hord as their only chance and consider the fking communist as better managers of the economy 😏
29:02 "Faced with a regime that has little tolerance for dissent but no proactive interest in doing them harm there's a real difficult decision to be made." And my country's constitution does say that, in the very first paragraph. It says that the country I was born in (S. Korea) was built upon more than one occasion when many people made that difficult decision and put themselves in harm's way. And those two occasions were not the last before the current constitution was written in 1987. It is so noble and respectable, but it is also very, very hard, which makes such decisions impossible to encourage or suggest from the outside. It's like asking someone else to cover a grenade with their own body so that everyone else could be saved.
From india , the opposition is worse although bjp lost its majorty this time . That you even consider modi is a autocrat while being completely shafted by courts and opposition, is why iam subscribing from your channel. Also you missed , another nation called USA.
Imagine if a new CEO starts giving out raises, a Christmas bonus, and makes things slightly more efficient. Plus the pizza party. People could probably live with the fact that he’s a real prick and may have murdered a few people.
Not the murder part Once violence and killing happens the gloves are off The Hungarian Dictator never uses violences because he doesn't want to be killed. He wants dissenters to just leave
The biggest way you win minds is even more democratic countries is big welfare programs / gov spending. And it’s so hard to push back because you obviously need a bunch of that stuff. But too much and you’re basically trading your future for popularity now. And you’ll rarely be popular by saying - “woah there - let’s stop giving you as much “free” stuff. which is how you get the plot arc that’s become so prevalent in South America: 1) Idealist leftist leader takes control democratically -> 2)spend spend spend to stay in office -> 3)any recession or financial then triggers a crisis and inflation -> 4) now unable to spend for popularity, they hold power by force and rapidly shift from too far left to authoritarian right The real kicker is - the more random projects you have, the more opportunity for corruption and self enrichment. (Not saying all gov spending and welfare is this - just that it’s an opportunity that many use)
@@forsociopoliticalstuff2629 I’m not sure if there’s a difference just verbiage. Just called it right cuz I a lot of people refer to it that way, and so my whole post wasn’t just ripping on the left. Another point is - most dictators all else equal would prefer their citizens be happy and prosperous. But whenever there’s a trade off, they’ll pick personal gain / power. The misery is just a consequence of their management/ corruption, and the military rule comes when they can no longer afford carrots and must turn to the stick. But like Qatar, Saudi, UAE are all very well functioning dictatorships. they are largely well off and educated, and are working to continue perpetuating power by carrot. Not saying they have no problems, but I think way above average (as in if had to be born again, didn’t know race, gender, intelligence etc… - I would probable prefer those places vs. having a place chosen at random).
The last points you made about tolerating stuff because the govt is taking care of you or your loved ones points to both the US and the UK heading down the same dangerous road to autocracy the more reliant people become on social programs. That’s likely why certain parties keep getting support even after demonstrably bad administrations from that party, like we are under right now with both Biden and Starmer
Prior to Escobar, there was Capone. Alphonse Capone built his criminal empire on bribery, threats, and a not insignificant amount of violence. However, he also started and improved existing public works projects, as well as throwing around stacks of cash like confetti. During the 1930s, he even built soup kitchens to feed the hungry. All of this was, of course, in service of winning hearts and minds, so his criminal ventures could run without interference.
Yhea well it's either the carrot and the stick/gun/rape/etc approach or it's the absolute and total fear. With the first one you'll at least have some of the public on your side, they might even try to help you, protect you and will tell you things that you will find helpful and a decent amount of people will stay in line knowing they have little to fear as long as they do nothing that gets in your way. With the second if you relax, slip, show a weakness, even once then it's far more likely people will try to fight back and they certainly won't ever try to help or offer you anything other than what you take and you have to ensure everyone is scared of you more than anything or anyone else.
I just watch BB Friday Florida Man, Episode 4 and I find it hilarious how Fact Boy changes his presentation style. One minute he is yelling, “...LOOK AT MY COCK”, and the next he is calm, cool and collected while presenting a Warographics story. Anyway, Simon (and his writers, etc) is an awesome You Tubers and his numerous channels are an excellent source of information and entertainment. Thanks Simon! Peace and love from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
Question: What was the difference between British imperialism and terrorism from the perspective of the subjected people's? From my experience the vast majority of people (not British of course) would equate the two - its terrorism with extra steps.
Inca wheel thing is funny, i heard they had it but didnt use it, no draft animals, and a mountainous terrain so it didnt get used. Skinny mountain trail is hard to push a small cart on.
The thing about Napoleon is much the same as with Pinochet: he followed the period of French history aptly named "the Reign of Terror", with bloody atrocities being an everyday occurrence and often made spectacle of. If they'd built their regimes on a peaceful and democratic population, they'd be much more loathed than they are. But of course, chances are good if they'd lived in such a society, they wouldn't have had to.
Convincing a society they should keep doing the same things that has been their way of life for hundreds/thousands of years... doesn't take a strong salesman...
Tucker Carlson’s interview of Putin and travel in Russia highlight this basic carrot appeal (a naive take). Russia has nice, safe, and clean train stations. As an American with a representative government (republic), it’s embarrassing that our cities, subways, and public transport is so disgusting compared to an authoritarian country like Russia. The crime is out of control, homeless encampments everywhere, and local governments are focused on special interest boondoggles than simple good governance. Freedom is worth it, but my goodness it’s frustrating.
They have the same in russia. Russia doesn't show you that part because the government control the media over there. You don't have to live in a major city in the US if you don't like it so much. Smaller cities and towns tend to be much better in the US.
Russia is busy going bankrupt for the same reason the US can't balance its books - both countries have failed to tax the rich. You can house your homeless, feed your hungry, have universal health care, high quality education, water that is safe to drink out of the tap, and all the other privileges of a wealthy nation .. if you just make up your mind to tax the rich.
Kinda left out a huge part in the modern section. Outside the Western countries much of the world has and in many ways are still dealing with western (US and Euro) colonialism. This is a HUGE part of their reasoning to the people and it is very effective because surprise surprise people don’t like foreign countries dominating them. This is also the reason why western backed dictators can stay in power so long, because they make very one sided deals with western countries/companies for personal gain and are therefore propped up. Can’t say I’m surprised this wasn’t mentioned in this channel though.
@@endjfcar Wow. What a weird attempt to change the subject. 😂 Nobody is stopping history's losers from developing. They've just been working to fail for a long time now, and it's past time to stop trying to blame colonization.
My grandmother lived half of her life during the Estado Novo regime in Portugal.
She was a lower middle class hairdresser with no particular political opinions and without any family members called to the colonial wars.
My younger brother asked her about her experience during the 25th of April revolution that brougth democracy to Portugal (for a school project for the 50th aniversary of the revolution), and her answer was that she didnt noticed any particular change.
For many people at the bottom
of the socio-economic ladder or
in remote rural areas, not much
changes.
@@here_we_go_again2571that’s unfortunately a damning, yet accurate statement towards democracy. Be it in the US, UK, much of the EU membership countries, Canada, et al, it’s no wonder the “mainstream” political parties are losing popularity outside of the cities (not to mention the not so well off populations) and populism has been on the rise as of late. I’ve traveled a fair bit at this point, and it seems quite common now that people are increasingly feeling ignored in their own countries at an increasing rate for a long time now. I worry where the end point might lead if the situation isn’t remedied and the lower classes and rural people don’t end up feeling heard and served as much as their middle/higher classes and urbanite countrymen. Resentment seems to be building more and more.
@@forsociopoliticalstuff2629
It isn't going to get better and neither
Socialism, the WEF or the Islamists
who claim that they have a beneficial
solution have one.
@@here_we_go_again2571 neither do the fascists. In case you just forgot to add them.
@@yzfool6639
W.E.F. are Fascists. Those like George
Soros want businesses to control
governments and the governments to
provide Socialist (social welfare) goodies.
Bankers love Socialism if they can make
money off it. Fascism is not "right" it is
of the "left" (but right of Communism)
Right v. Left isn't very useful in this era.
Islamism is about as far right as one can
get; but they have alliances with the political Left. Why?
They have a common enemy:
Western civilization/culture that was formed by Christianity and the
traditional family (patriarchy)
"Democracies aren't overthrown; they're given away by the people."
- George Lucas
Hence the famous line which the Padme character ended up uttering.
In reality democracy is unachievable, just like how pure communism is only available in the higher world, because as humans our governments will stabilize in autocracy/plutocracy, and then people would create new labels for the cycle to start again.
We can’t vote for Trump again there’s too much too lose
@@ZeroToMidnightwhat the FUCK are you talking about
@@ZeroToMidnight you're going to vote for the uniparty anyway.
In Star Wars episode 3 “Revenge of the Sith,” Padmé said “So this is how Democracy dies, with thunderous applauses?” Never been more true in a film.
Padme not padmae
with thunderous applause*
Please quote properly when using literal quotation marks. Jesus.
@@CantHandleThisCanYathat Jesus at the end made you so insufferable, you have no idea
@Sedobreev that you have no idea at the end made you so insufferable, you have no idea
@@CantHandleThisCanYa seems like you can’t handle a stupid AI autocorrect error lol.
Its allways the "Mussulini made the trains run on time and Salazar balanced the acounts"
I also found out mussilini didnt even exactly get the trains on time. He didnt even do that lmao
Mussalini did not need to actually made the trains run on time. He needed just to made peple think he did. And to this day people believe he did. And Huttler built the Autobahns and whatnot.
@@richardaubrecht2822he built most Autobahns tough. The myth was that he invented it, which is obviously wrong, but a large part of the Autobahnen was built by the Nazis
@@Etzelsschizo The Autobahn was created not for the people, but for the military. It allowed the fast transport of tanks and trucks across the nation. The Generals remembered that the one thing that didn't allow them to take quick advantage of the end of the Eastern Front war was transporting all the material and troops to the Western Front. It's why Eisenhower created the Interstate system in the US: not for us to travel, but for the military to do so. Tanks and trucks in large numbers move faster on roads than on trains.
Something Mussolini did was lockup the mafia. Italy before was like El Salvador recent problems, he was popular because mass incarcerated all the criminals just like Bukele has done.
You failed to mention Singapore.
The most successful authoritarian regime in modern history, who had the best education system, the best housing program, one of the least corrupt nation, the lowest crime rates, one of the highest percapita income, one of the most developed and sophisticated, one of the most technologically advanced, the cleanest, one of the most peaceful, one of the friendliest to do business for foreign investors.
The secret...?
Lee Kuan Yew who lay the foundation from the very start to make sure his new nation can last as long as possible and prosper as best as possible by not too strict, absolute zero tolerance to corruption, rule of law that works best for the society and make sure all of them follow, provide the best possible means of anything for the people, religious, social, and ethnic harmony, friendly to do business for foreign investors, be pragmatic and flexible, and at last...do what's worked and abandoned what's doesn't.
Cool. I'd love to move there. No joke.
@@Novastar.SaberCombat Right? A horrible, repressive regime... their sin? They don't tolerate corruption and they insist on rule of law.
Threaten me with a good time why don't ya.
Im not familiar with him or most things related to singapore in general. What made him a tyrant?
Was also surprised they missed SG.
@@fourcatsandagarden He's not a tyrant. He's a dictator. A very successful and beloved one.
One thing we have learned is that "things can always get worse". In modern times we have learned that after Saddam in Iraq and Gaddafi in Libya.
Two fine examples of democracy being introduced.
@@trevornewton2646The thing is, it's not actual 'democracy', is it? Just like how Mao and Stalin were not actual 'communism'.
@trevornewton2646 you know people of those countries have lost everything in the name of democracy right? It was never about democracy 🙄 it was about stealing the resources...
Those countries are in rubble now becuase of the war! West has stolen all their resources! And keep stealing in the name of democracy lol 😅
@@princebond No democracy is real democracy. Once the absolute majority inevitably elects a big name with no honesty behind it, the endless sabotage begins.
Of all the channels in the Whistlerverse, excluding the "haha " funny ones, Warographics is absolutely the best you've got!!
So true!!! I also feel like it's by far the most important one because it helps unbiasely explain often current issues and events that people need to be more aware of.
Into the Shadows too
Better than any modern media outlet.
For real, he’s great to stay informed
@@MrEnjoivolcom1 I agree. But Into the Shadows is also pretty dadgum good.
Autocracy is pretty much the rule, democracy is the exception, in all human societies in 99% of history
Infant mortality was traditional throughout most of history, so what is your point?
@@badluck5647 That it is easy for dictatorships to rise and that maintaining democracy requires constant effort.
@@badluck5647 Infant mortality is still very much traditional in much of the world.
The point is, regardless of how many new shiny gadgets we might have invented, we're still the same people we've always been for all of recorded history.
Democracy is no new invention, and by looking at past democracies we can surmise where we're headed in the near future.
Plutocracy is far out, man
Exactly wut is ur point? 🤔
Pro of Autocracy: Things get done a lot quicker
Con of Autocracy: You complain, you disappear
More can be added
Cool uniforms?
Things the state wants done happens.
You have to see corruption as a work benefit.
Pros: Things are done quickly
Cons: Sometimes those are really bad things
In democracy, you can also complain and disappear next day. It's just the context of the complain that usually pretty silly in autocracy, but in democracy people advocating justice could still easily be persecuted if they don't benefit the government. Take a look at Julian Assange or Edward Snowden. In conclusion democracy and autocracy in real life is basically on the same line, it's just democracy has bigger threshold and more "objective".
@@definitelyhuman4510 Our stance is that Assange decided to sit out a fairly mundane sexual misconduct charge for much longer than his eventual sentence would have been.
I'll never forget being taught in high school about Benito Mussolini.
"He was known for getting the trains running on time; by killing those who didn't."
Never mind the man's many other atrocities, that was one hell of an introduction to him for me.
This describes the Zimbabwean situation so accurately, the citizenry has pretty much given up and some are even begrudgingly joining the ruling party they hate just for the small perks
You have said it perfectly
This channel allows me to trick people that i understand geopolitics
If you can find some of these places on a map you're smarter then 90% of people when it comes to Geopolitics. Most Europeans I've talked to arent even aware of all the shady shit the UK, France, Russia, and various Arab powers get up to in Africa to this day including France's whole neocolonial empire that never really went away. Plenty of Americans are barely aware of world events the US isn't directly and overtly involved in. Half the shady shit Russia and China are up to is almost entirely unknown. Africa and South America may as well not exist for how little people outside of those areas know about them.
@@arthas640To add to your point, ironically South Africa is super influential and strong, but many people barely know their existence. Countries like that must love this fact soo much. Being powerful, without being heard off much.
@@dimitriskaryamis yeah people tend to forget they were and still mostly are THE preeminent African power and only recently has Egypt and Nigeria caught up, and they mainly do that thanks to much larger populations. South Africa could rather easily approach Europe in terms of quality of life if not for the corruption and inequality since they've got insane amounts of natural resources and plenty of well educated people. One of my favorite examples of their hidden skills is their military: tons of former apartheid era soldiers became top tier mercenaries and when the US was looking for new IFVs and urban warfare vehicles they ended up buying South African MRAPs and the CIA even used a special aircraft designed by South Africa because it was great for fighting insurgents
As a Venezuelan... i would say... that the main fuel for sympathy toward dictatorship is the impunity and privilege
A democracy is a system that allows multiple spheres of power between their citizens and check balances in exchange of individuals duties ... sadly, when a part of the citizens realizes that they can get privileges and impunity for their "small and tiny daily corruptions" (bribe, tax evasion, etc) by supporting a regime change or a dictator.... then the game is over for the country in a long term (Lebanon, Venezuela, Serbia, Hungary, Pakistan, Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia)
Also we have the case when a part of the population cant stand the other part of the population, so they support the dictatorship to eliminate or subjugate the another part of the population because for them, considering the other part as equals is a offence or even worse (Iran, Russia, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Myanmar)
And dictators know that very well... that's why they love to create an enemy/enemies for the propaganda and give privileges to certain groups for the status quo.
That sums it up pretty well and also explains what sentiments can be successfully targeted by propaganda.
We laugh at it rn (dumb Russian bots for example) but it is successful *enough* in slowly dividing us.
It's not only us being lied to by propaganda, they also show us the reality of our failures (institutions) and possibilities of exploiting each other ("you too can game the system ")that weren't previously as present in the mainstream.
That sounds like they’re actually giving their base wins which is the whole point…
I mean that's only a quarter of truth, and didn't include the western influences that create a heavy anchor for the battle of influence
Well said.
Chavez was pretty popular in his early years and even far into his rule. Maduro is not, he seems like a non-charismatic placeholder for a dead charismatic one.
For a Tyrant there is always this interesting little problem:
The more you improve the infrastructure, the more it can be used for purposes you didn't intend.
Eventually, one of those purposes will be to assist the transfer of resources and information between rebels.
The roads are limited between resource nodes and extraction points for a reason....
I remember what CGP Grey said in his video about rulers - the strongest autocracies are the ones with good natural resources, because they can run a primary economy off of starving peasants, instead of having to risk making people smarter and wealthier.
Mobutu once reproached his neighbor friend Habyarimana against building roads for the people, then when war started he (Mobutu) reminded him that "they're using your roads to get to you"
As I had explained to me while I was in Afghanistan, the loyalty of any population belongs to the most acceptable group that is visibility improving their lives and enforces a predictable, consistent series of expectations. If you can be sufficiently better than the othe choices you gain the loyalty of any population and it will only grow as you continue to deliver.
I had a chat with a couple refugee tomato farmers who liked the old communist government. Not because they were die-hard communists, but because the cops worked.
Aristotle identified the character of different political approaches and figured this question out a couple thousand years ago. I recommend researching Aristotle and oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy.
And his student (Alexander the Great) then very successfully applied it
@@zuruumi9849 indeed! 😆 take care!
Western culture isn't much different, although instead of physical harm those in power use reputational, psychological or financial harm.
This idiotic sentiment can only come from someone who has never lived in a bona fide dictatorship. The overwhelming majority of people living in fear, getting arrested for criticism of the government, tortured by the secret police if you're unlucky. But also, having no recourse whatsoever when you're being treated unjustly by anyone with ties to the regime, while corruption is everywhere (yes, autocracies tend to be far more corrupt). Ask a Russian or Egyptian dissident which system is better to live under. I have friends from such countries. Despite the many flaws of Western political systems (yes, we're not always tolerant, and it's getting worse on both sides), they're elated about their new found freedom here. You're slandering (I suspect) your own country for the world to see. In China, your post would be removed by censors in no time. Please grow up.
The UK's monarch still has all of the authority they could want, it's just whether they choose to wield it or not
UK secret service act is prime example
@@rolandxb3581
Mostly likely a disgruntled Westerner.
There is a big difference though, a huge one. Yeah in the US you can get in trouble but far, far less. Look back at most cases where a story harmful to the US government got out and you'll trace a ton of the info back to Freedom of Information Act releases: the government hands off those harmful records if you file the right paperwork. A ton of what we know about Iran-Contra, most of what we know about Hoovers abuses of power, the infiltration of the Civil Rights movement by the FBI, most of what we know about Operation Condor and other shady shit the US did in South/Central America, most of what we know about MKULTRA, and some of what we know about Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments were all thanks to Freedom of Information Act releases.
Do you think for one second Putin or Xi would make similar releases? When there are whistleblowers similarly the US _might_ arrest the people responsible but just look at Manning his/her whistleblowing: they got convicted of breaking numerous laws and only spent a couple years in jail. When much smaller releases were made by Russians they got brutally poisoned or thrown out of windows or just disappeared in Siberia. The US has a few, small prisons for terrorists and military traitors but they are less then 1% of what China and Russia have and even according to many prisoners the conditions are wildly different.
The west have their issues, especially the US, but comparing them to Russia or China is a pretty common Vatnik tactic of "well they're not so different" even though they're proven to be wildly different.
Haha, I am not even 10 seconds in, and boom, I see our former Montenegrin dictator - Milo Đukanović. Thank you Simon for invoking my trauma. 😅
There are so many from which to choose, it's insane. Chump, Escobar, Puton, Shenko, Bolsanerdo, XiXiPi, KJU, Heetlar, "The Muss"(olini), Stahleen, Bankman-Fraud, Theranos chick, Madeoff, Bezoz, 3l0π, etc. Throw a stone in any direction, ya know? 😕
@@Novastar.SaberCombat ... wut
“Demography, not democracy, will be the most critical factor for security and growth in the 21st century”
― Lee Kuan Yew
So cull the seniors and encourage teenage motherhood? That surge of youth is what supercharges an economy.
Although it didn’t work out so well for aggressively pro-natal Nazi Germany, nor does it seem to serve Subsaharan Africa these days very much.
I don't think you can call Napoleon a tyrant without including the fact he was better than literally every other gross feudal nonsense other countries had at the time. We call him a Tyrant because he lost in the end, not because he was somehow worse than the kings and queens of Europe, quite a bit better, in fact.
Napoleon is a saint compared to Rwanda, China and Genghis
I think the Spanish, Belgians, Dutch, Germans, Italians and Russians might disagree with you.
@@davidrossa4125People under british rule would disagree with you. However, napoleon also restarted slavery so take as you will.
Tf?! He slaughtered so many people. The town my dad grew up in was nearly devoid of life after Napoleon's army had rolled through it. The only people who survived had managed to hide somewhere. The town that I grew up in was completely destroyed by Napoleon's army, and the only reason why they were able to rebuild quickly was that there's a medieval castle in the town that no one needed, so the people took stones from there to rebuild. Both towns are in Germany btw, just different parts. He might have brought the code civil(?), but he was still despicable, and trying to defend him is not too much better than defending Hitler. Imagine what Napoleon would've done with the technological capabilities of the Third Reich. Just because French people and apparently some others want to celebrate a mass murderer as a hero doesn't make him one.
@@solar0wind lol every european country was doing the same. It only becomes a problem when that happens in europe
When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty
You guys also think about injustice? I thought religion was the only motive of yours
I immediatly thought of this quote by Hernan Reyes, the villain from fast 5, when I watched this video.
"Look, I would love to expand my operations into your countries but, quite frankly, your business methods are too violent. Let me tell you a true story. Five hundred years ago, the Portuguese and the Spanish came here, each trying to get the country from their natives. The Spaniards arrived, guns blazing, determined to prove who was boss. The natives killed every single Spaniard. Personally, I prefer the methods of the Portuguese. They came bearing gifts. Mirrors, scissors, trinkets. Things that the natives couldn't get on their own, but to continue receiving them, they had to work for the Portuguese. And that's why all Brazilians speak Portuguese today. Now, if you dominate the people with violence, they will eventually fight back because they have nothing to lose. And that's the key. I go into the favelas and give them something to lose. Electricity, running water, school rooms for their kids. And for that taste of a better life, I own them."
The Dutch bought Manhattan
island for $24 in Trinkets
(mirrors, glass beads)
But once the word got out
about trade goods; the N.A.
wanted steel hatchets, and later
guns (cast iron cooking pots were
also very popular) As the Delaware/
Lenape became the
middlemen for the Dutch
fur trade.
Later the Algonquin people
(Quebec) and the Huron-Wendat
served this role for the French
The Iroquois and later the
Shawnee and others fulfilled
this role for the British.
you sound smart, but Israelis constantly tried this strategy with Palestinians not even to take over just to make peace. but the disgusting ideology of Hamas the Islamic Jihad and all those other organizations remains the rule. the Israeli shift to the right is only recent because those things were proven to not work over and over again.
The same happened in russia in 1999, sadly. Putin promised so much at his election, like becoming a part of EU, upping the ruble price, european quality of life level, etc etc, people believed him, and then the oil n gas trade played him good and people became sure putin is the guy to rule russia. Need i say what happened instead of what he promised?....
Hence, the two party duopoly in the US.
yeah, the old "one hand with bread, the other hand iron fist"method, if the tyrants are short of goodwill and/or resource, just iron fist still do. like sun tzu so sagely said, "heart and mind" means "keep the credible threat of two bullets to center mass and one bullet to the dome".
i am a unemployed working-age chinese male, i do know what i am talking about
"Panem et circenses" worked in 100 BC, still works today.
People are gonna people.
Today we call it sportswashing
I feel like videos like this are important to put out along the videos of current events to emphasize the importance that everything is a massive spectrum of possibilities that isn’t just binary as most imagine things to be especially in the conversation of autocracy and authoritarianism.
"But what have the Romans ever done for us..."
🤣🤣
Sometimes people ask
the same about the
British. The Romans
were brutal ... Much
more than the British.
Sanitation Yes, that too
The aqueduct I'll grant is one
thing the Romans may have done
And the roads, now they're all new
And the great wines too
ruclips.net/video/Qc7HmhrgTuQ/видео.htmlsi=XyCo3C5h3JXLr3Oj
Give them Jesus.
Named the Germans and Africans.
Labeled the human anatomy and the solar system.
Civilized the known world.
You’re welcome barbarians.
The aqueduct
Honestly, perhaps the wisest move of a dictator or such would be to know when to bow out.
“I improved your infrastructure, built you roads, gave you clean water, etc! You’re welcome, goodbye as I enjoy retirement!”
If there is a popular revolt, it’s the next guy’s problem.
Imagine if Hitler didn’t start any wars after the Sudetenland or such. Or if Qaddafi didn’t push his luck during the Arab Spring (or retired well before that period). Imagine if Putin just retired before starting the war with Ukraine.
In all three of these cases, they would have been, at least more or less, fondly remembered by their people if not the entire world.
Hell, imagine if Kim Jong Un secured trade relations and development aid from the West or something, then just says mission accomplished and leaves. Your average North Korean would be jubilant at Dear Leader’s gracious benevolence and would feel Kim’s retirement is well earned. Whatever happens after isn’t his problem, and may even see him warmly welcomed back.
So often they push the envelope into utter disaster, though.
Power can corrupt, but in most cases, it just reveals the monster beneath.
Once you get a taste, it's more addictive than the sweetest wine, or the strongest heroin.
I think another part of why people seem almost afraid to remove dictators is the, not entirely unjustified, fear that they may be replacing the mildly annoyed tiger with another, more violently erratic tiger with a taste for human flesh.
People don't really use that much logic, they just don't wanna be everyone's sacrifice.
I've been to Ethiopia a couple of times. I've never met anyone who didn't despise the Derg. But I have met people who point out that they got rid of the feudal landlords, promoted literacy, etc. One person, who was very glad they were gone, still said, "It seems like they were more for the people than Selassie or the current government."
And the Derg dared to get help for the famines, others didn't care.
There is a saying among us Germans: "The one good thing the small bearded Austrian did, was building the Autobahn Network"
not saying, that how & why he did it was right, but you just cant deny the benfits of well-paved Roads !
Didn't he make the trains
run on time too?
That's exactly the type statement the world expects from the country that gave us Nazism and has never fought for anything but themselves. Yes, Germany, this is sadly what we have come to expect from you. Evil.
@here_we_go_again2571 that was his Italian buddy.
@@caleblarsen5490
That must have been Mussolini's only
accomplishment. Hitler's mini-me.
@@caleblarsen5490which was propaganda. Trains were still late.
Thanks Simon, when I become a dictator I will give you a shoutout.
Simon, you left out one very important Geopolitical problem. Its 'A China Problem' that the USA has because China has won the hearts and minds of the African Continent by helping them improve their roads and infrastructure, something that the US did little of. Its considered a 'semi-serious' problem because oh how Africa will ally with China or USA on a global war. Africa however does not want to piss anyone off and will not move the needle to either country and will allow 'passage' through the country. Arguably India has been considered also a country that does not want to piss anyone off and wants to be friends with everyone, they are on the list to be the next Hegemony.
India wants to remain a hegemony while China is actively taking a part of a state. A part where you could just go and shoot a movie is no longer a part of our country. And what did our Prime Minister have to say wrt this?
No one has entered or is trying to enter. If you read up on Galwan Valley, you'll know exactly what I am talking about. Even after all this while imports from China are at an exponential high. We are importing more from China than exporting to them. This was not supposed to happen. In the run up to the General Elections in 2014, then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, famously said he would show a red eye to China (basically meaning to stand firm). A few months before, India's Foreign Minsiter Dr. S Jaishankar went on record saying India can never catch up with China. While the Indian Government is being busy playing coy with Beijing, inside the country it's ruling party (the BJP) is spreading loads of money in a campaign that we are going to be the fifth largest economy, we are getting infrastructure like expressways and new train sets. Classic Good Old Dictatorial horsecrap.
That's because for the most part Africans still are waiting for the day we can actually control our own resources and future. What happens here in Africa really shouldn't be the concern of the USA or China, but alas we are burdened with having a vast amount of resources the first world needs in order to prop up their fictitious ideas of supremacy and importance.
@@tonyheather-noon5291
But no human capital or expertise to make use of them.
I had never thought of it this way. Thank you for opening my eyes!
At the end of the day, if you have gone through so much in your life (ex: devastating war and provocation in South Korea), you end up wanting stability rather than political freedom (dictators after the war)
When we first invented divine authority (kings and priests) and the possession of things (wealth), we elevated One Percent of humanity over the other Ninety-nine Percent. Ever since then, the One Percent has treated the Ninety-nine Percent the same way that snakes treat mice.
Kings have existed for as long as man.
They always end when people realize things can always be better for themselves or loved ones.
The recipe of tyranny
1. Repeat the lie endlessly until the people accept it as truth (follow the 'Golden Path' or perish)
2. Use fear and horror (counter-insurgency methods, deprivation or starvation) to quell opposition / Blame all problems and shortcomings on real or imagined enemies (generalized paranoia is ideal) / Reward those who cooperate and promote fanaticism / Forbid and criminalize freedom of consciousness, free speech and rational thinking
3. Encourage people to inform on one another (real guilt is not required only purging matters)
4. Repeat
Ah the Democrat playbook.
Of course none of that applies to a certain day in January a few years. That was different. That was muh democracy.
@@kkloikok Sadly, the 'progressive' branch of this party uses 'soft' versions of these totalitarian methods (ex: denounce, shame, cancel and re-educate opponents) but, to be fair, they're not the only ones to do so in Western society
@@kkloikokhave you....not seen what the right wing playbook is? Fearmongering and false flags are literally their bread and butter, don't let them fool you
Sounds like project 2025, I guess the republicans were paying attention.
For those of us who know the hells of tyranny , whether personally or from the stories our parents told us, must help ensure these stories do not get repeated in our new home.
Dude, did you seriously put ISIS and modern India in the same list of tyrannical regimes? You know India is a real Democracy, right?
🤡🤡
Assume nothing
Believe nothing
Check everything
I was hoping that Gaddafi would be mentioned as he is a prime example of balancing incentives with authoritarian rule and the potential risks of it.
Yep! The great man-made river, increasing education and healthcare access, support for increases African unity, etc. Better off with him than without him for sure.
@@daddsimand all the international terrorist organizations he aided.
@@daddsim the average life of a Libyan was very prosperous, subsidized housing,0% interest on loans,cash incentives for marriage,all these readily available because of a small population and huge nationalised oil wealth, basically an average oil rich Arab nation with socialism rather than an islamist monarchy.Libya today has a thriving slave market, terrorists on every block,one of its largest city Benghazi reduced to rubble by the defenders of freedom and democracy NATO,the country split by warring parties on a violent stalemate.The life of an average Libyan today is far worse and a far cry from the prosperity they enjoyed under their corrupt and brutal dictator.
@@JIJCrow Also South Africa was better under Ap*rtheid. Back then, we had electricity, healthy and facilities. Now, we have crime, violence and poverty.
@@DinoBryce You realise Apartheid had been declared by the whole world as a crime against Humanity?If you're white then you may be right speaking on behalf of your white counterparts,it was not your humanity that Apartheid was being criminal towards
I watched it all, well done man.
When approval rates couldn't be lower and reelection rates couldn't be higher you know you've won the game
Yessss!!!! Was hoping you would do this.
"What have the Romans ever done for us? Apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”
The Greeks did wine and education, the Egyptians (and probably more so the Assyrians) gave us irrigation, public order was established the second Hellenic and Assyrian city-states appeared, and roads were only improved upon by the Romans after the Persians invented them
They usually just improved things that already existed, we were given most things by the Bronze Age civilizations, not the Romans.
@@Ayem427 not sure if my intent was clear or not: google Life of Brian.
I'll remember that for my next Tropico playthough.
Best video I watched in a long time. Good job
as an Indian i agree that modi is a bit different than other leaders but i assure you he is not in any way a dictator we want him because he has brought in a lot of development
i have personally seen this development in my hometown Varanasi (that is where he ran from) roads electricity cleanliness and after the latest ganga ghat project the no. of tourists coming in has increased by almost 200%
i went back there to visit my grandma and the place has changed astronomically also there are new airports and train stations everything has changed
i currently live in mumbai and a metro line has started which will be fully functional in a year or so this was done by modi too
so we vote for modi cause he is the only one who is actually doing anything congress is a scam and corrupt
indian politics will always have hindu muslim problems but we live together peacefully
Hey can you do one on henry kissinger?
Why would he? He spouts western neoliberal talking points in his vids. Kissinger was the epitome of western neoliberal violence. He prefers making videos of genocide denial when it comes to the Palestinians.
Thanks for the tutorial.
No matter how free a democracy may start, with time, money and power will centralize in fewer and fewer people.
In the Philippines, we call this the Edifice Complex. The Marcos Dictatorship of 1972-1986 is revered by many Filipinos as the "Golden Era" simply because there were a lot of infrastructure that was completed during their regime. "Nevermind the crippling debts, the built roads"- stupid reasoning of those who ignorantly believed such.
I am an up incoming tyrant who is here and willing to learn.
Please trade me your coat
Ayy thx for the tutorial
It does need to be pointed out that some of the leaders that Paul murdered were part of the Hutu-led group that helped commit the Rwanda genocide.
Kagame doesn't get the credit he deserves for a) ending the genocide, b) reuniting the country and doing a lot to heal ethnic tensions, c) greatly improving life for all Rwandans regardless of ethnicity. That is a heroic arc. Rwanda is on the right path to become a stable, middle income, developed nation, but you can't rush it.
@@colinm5545
Village Rwandans are worse off than their parents in the previous government, their former farms now plantations which they squat on.
And most infrastructure was built by the dictatorship before his.
This right here is Gold!
If you really think the BJP led Government in India qualifies as tyrannical, you really have no idea of Indian polity. Or the previous regime led by the Congress. A cabal of top leaders led by the Congress party supremo formed a council that placed itself above the Prime Minister's Office! And dictated what decisions the PM should make! I take it the makers of this video think that such an apparatus set up by the Congress to subvert India's highest political office, is absolutely democratic! 😒
Yeh he just same western type who just hate modi govt refer as far right facist even though they lose majority from election in 3 term it true modi little bit authorian not as autocrate but congress is okey party they also corrupt and dynastic party who know maintain rule the country not destroy economy due to socialist scheme and reservation and having anti capitalist stance
1:30 - Chapter 1 - The subject
3:55 - Chapter 2 - The distant past
11:40 - Chapter 3 - The modern day
21:20 - Chapter 4 - Why does it work ?
Dude, all I'm asking is for democracies to do alteast some of those and we won't want authoritarians
Red Turban rebel: "What have the Mongols ever done for us!?"
People want to eat, to be safe, and for the trains to run on time. If you can do that better than what they had, they don't care what you do. In Russia, as long as you don't come out against Putin, you have the same freedom you would have here. In China, support the CCP and you can have the success you would in most other Western nations, plus a superior infrastructure and education system, especially compared to the US.
Yes, certain rights, especially regarding LGBTQ+ rights, are at times horrendous; but guess what? Most people around the WORLD don't share the opinions that are shared in Western nations. Hell, half the people in Western nations don't share those opinions on LGBTQ+ rights. For the vast majority of populations, they don't care, as long as it is better now than it was before.
Remember, a certain German dictator was able to become the worst despot in history, and have the support of his people, because he created jobs, got people fed, made their country respected and even, prior to 1939, admired, and got the trains to run on time. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been in power for 4 years, much less till 1945. And yes, the vast majority of Germans supported him till the end.
Brilliant explanation,
I'm sharing this with family and friends.
👍
Warlords/terrorists: "You're welcome citizens, we paved the road."
Citizens: "We don't have clean water, we live in mud huts with scrap metal for roofs & we barely have food... thanks for nothing!"
ISIS: We've fixed the pot-holes.
Me: That's great, but it doesn't off-set the morality police and the oppression of women and anyone who's not Sunni-Muslim.
@@nolongerblocked6210 most authoritarian regimes that survived long enough was actually very into massive housing projects
" Those left with nothing afraid to loose become rebels" a ruling class saying from my country
Oh look there, those tanks are rolling on the same road. I love autocracy.
It's easier to patrol with functional streets
@Kaltagstar96 The sunnis had been getting oppressed by the Shias for at least a decade when ISIS rose. When Sadam fell a majority Shia government immediately began oppressing them. Of course in Sadams time the Shias were oppressed. It goes round and round.
Uyimenemene, Simon! What about Nayib Bukele and Lee Kwan Yu? If you were completely neutral, you would have mentioned those heads of state. We all know that there is no such thing as a clean politician. Whether they're Liberal or despotic.
Hmmm
Simon gives us good videos... coins.... stickers.
All hail Simon!
Sounds like how politicians operate in all types of govt.
Sure, if you don't actually understand how politics actually works.😂
@@SkunkApe407 then educate me, oh wise one!
@@solo1014 not my job, buttercup. You're holding a device with access to the entirety of human knowledge. Figure it out.
PS: Crayons aren't food, bud.
@@SkunkApe407 already did, but you said i was wrong. Burden of convincing is on you. Machiavelli would be a trifle saddened by you. Im terribly sorry you were fed crayons during your formative years.
Y'all are entertaining, but convo too short.
They have a lot of money as well.
It's just easier to manipulate people that way. When there's no economic opportunities in some areas.
Don't forget how much Al Capone donated to charity & soup kitchens.
Or how many houses Pablo Escobar built for the poor.
" but they build roads" title is hitting home hard since it's a common thing to hear boomers say about the 1967 - 74 far right military junta in Greece 😏
Also an aspect that we can't ignore is that those regimes found supporters among the population that they usually oppress or use as cattle because the previous situation was either a total failure or completely collapsed
An other example again from Greece is the areas under communist control during ww2
The partisan leaders was often discrabed as " medieval warlords" like using wips made of barwire and executing people for the slightest offense
But even they looked as a good alternative in comparison with the occupation forces and the previous regime
I mean imagine the amount of miss management it takes for people to see technically a dark ages hord as their only chance and consider the fking communist as better managers of the economy 😏
Ideology always turns out to be a flat tire. It drains the mind no matter the intentions.
29:02 "Faced with a regime that has little tolerance for dissent but no proactive interest in doing them harm there's a real difficult decision to be made."
And my country's constitution does say that, in the very first paragraph. It says that the country I was born in (S. Korea) was built upon more than one occasion when many people made that difficult decision and put themselves in harm's way. And those two occasions were not the last before the current constitution was written in 1987. It is so noble and respectable, but it is also very, very hard, which makes such decisions impossible to encourage or suggest from the outside. It's like asking someone else to cover a grenade with their own body so that everyone else could be saved.
Makes me think of some regimes (Iran, Belarus, others) where youths rise up about once a generation to demand change, and mostly get crushed 😢
@@miditraxgood on those regimes not to let western degeneracy poison their youths.
"Free, fair and developed nations" - which ones are those? Show me!
From india , the opposition is worse although bjp lost its majorty this time .
That you even consider modi is a autocrat while being completely shafted by courts and opposition, is why iam subscribing from your channel.
Also you missed , another nation called USA.
It's a bit like getting a new photocopier and a pizza party at work.
Imagine if a new CEO starts giving out raises, a Christmas bonus, and makes things slightly more efficient. Plus the pizza party.
People could probably live with the fact that he’s a real prick and may have murdered a few people.
Not the murder part
Once violence and killing happens the gloves are off
The Hungarian Dictator never uses violences because he doesn't want to be killed. He wants dissenters to just leave
"People are not afraid from Dictators and Tyrans , people are afraid from being different from their neighbors" .
They just have to convince the people that a world without them would look much more worse. It can be a very easy thing.
Originally titled 'How governments work'.......
Hmmm strange right I hope it does change due to political bias he has right🤔
Autocracy is the norm, democracy is exception. Autocracy has been past, democracy is present, Dystopia is future.
Russia, past and especially present, should be mentioned here
Or Venezuela under Chavez and Maduro.
Nice now do one about Israel called how Fascism and Democracy can actually exist.
The biggest way you win minds is even more democratic countries is big welfare programs / gov spending.
And it’s so hard to push back because you obviously need a bunch of that stuff.
But too much and you’re basically trading your future for popularity now. And you’ll rarely be popular by saying - “woah there - let’s stop giving you as much “free” stuff.
which is how you get the plot arc that’s become so prevalent in South America:
1) Idealist leftist leader takes control democratically ->
2)spend spend spend to stay in office ->
3)any recession or financial then triggers a crisis and inflation ->
4) now unable to spend for popularity, they hold power by force and rapidly shift from too far left to authoritarian right
The real kicker is - the more random projects you have, the more opportunity for corruption and self enrichment. (Not saying all gov spending and welfare is this - just that it’s an opportunity that many use)
Why not shift to authoritarian-left? Seems like an odd shift.
@@forsociopoliticalstuff2629 I’m not sure if there’s a difference just verbiage. Just called it right cuz I a lot of people refer to it that way, and so my whole post wasn’t just ripping on the left.
Another point is - most dictators all else equal would prefer their citizens be happy and prosperous. But whenever there’s a trade off, they’ll pick personal gain / power.
The misery is just a consequence of their management/ corruption, and the military rule comes when they can no longer afford carrots and must turn to the stick.
But like Qatar, Saudi, UAE are all very well functioning dictatorships. they are largely well off and educated, and are working to continue perpetuating power by carrot.
Not saying they have no problems, but I think way above average (as in if had to be born again, didn’t know race, gender, intelligence etc… - I would probable prefer those places vs. having a place chosen at random).
Please cover the French-Algerian war and the Algerian civil war.
The last points you made about tolerating stuff because the govt is taking care of you or your loved ones points to both the US and the UK heading down the same dangerous road to autocracy the more reliant people become on social programs. That’s likely why certain parties keep getting support even after demonstrably bad administrations from that party, like we are under right now with both Biden and Starmer
Demonstrably bad? In comparison to trump or 14 years of Tory incompetence?
I certainly wouldn't vote for Stamer, but he has barely been in power, I don't think that's "demonstrably" at all
Prior to Escobar, there was Capone. Alphonse Capone built his criminal empire on bribery, threats, and a not insignificant amount of violence. However, he also started and improved existing public works projects, as well as throwing around stacks of cash like confetti. During the 1930s, he even built soup kitchens to feed the hungry. All of this was, of course, in service of winning hearts and minds, so his criminal ventures could run without interference.
Yhea well it's either the carrot and the stick/gun/rape/etc approach or it's the absolute and total fear. With the first one you'll at least have some of the public on your side, they might even try to help you, protect you and will tell you things that you will find helpful and a decent amount of people will stay in line knowing they have little to fear as long as they do nothing that gets in your way. With the second if you relax, slip, show a weakness, even once then it's far more likely people will try to fight back and they certainly won't ever try to help or offer you anything other than what you take and you have to ensure everyone is scared of you more than anything or anyone else.
Before there was Capone, there was John D. Rockefeller, and "the Standard Oil".
I just watch BB Friday Florida Man, Episode 4 and I find it hilarious how Fact Boy changes his presentation style. One minute he is yelling, “...LOOK AT MY COCK”, and the next he is calm, cool and collected while presenting a Warographics story. Anyway, Simon (and his writers, etc) is an awesome You Tubers and his numerous channels are an excellent source of information and entertainment. Thanks Simon! Peace and love from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
great video
Question: What was the difference between British imperialism and terrorism from the perspective of the subjected people's? From my experience the vast majority of people (not British of course) would equate the two - its terrorism with extra steps.
Terrorism is just a label, anyone can put it on their enemies.
@@1wun1 100%
Inca wheel thing is funny, i heard they had it but didnt use it, no draft animals, and a mountainous terrain so it didnt get used. Skinny mountain trail is hard to push a small cart on.
Wow the balls... Comparing Napoleon to Escobar. Then you wake up, and ur in the UK! What a nightmare.
He is actually in the Czech Republic iirc.
The thing about Napoleon is much the same as with Pinochet: he followed the period of French history aptly named "the Reign of Terror", with bloody atrocities being an everyday occurrence and often made spectacle of. If they'd built their regimes on a peaceful and democratic population, they'd be much more loathed than they are.
But of course, chances are good if they'd lived in such a society, they wouldn't have had to.
maybe you could make a video detailing the relationship between dictatorships and oppression
Convincing a society they should keep doing the same things that has been their way of life for hundreds/thousands of years... doesn't take a strong salesman...
CGP Grey "The Rules for Rulers"
Hey Simon hi!
So much of this applies to the Western world today.
Tucker Carlson’s interview of Putin and travel in Russia highlight this basic carrot appeal (a naive take). Russia has nice, safe, and clean train stations.
As an American with a representative government (republic), it’s embarrassing that our cities, subways, and public transport is so disgusting compared to an authoritarian country like Russia. The crime is out of control, homeless encampments everywhere, and local governments are focused on special interest boondoggles than simple good governance.
Freedom is worth it, but my goodness it’s frustrating.
They have the same in russia. Russia doesn't show you that part because the government control the media over there. You don't have to live in a major city in the US if you don't like it so much. Smaller cities and towns tend to be much better in the US.
Russia is busy going bankrupt for the same reason the US can't balance its books - both countries have failed to tax the rich. You can house your homeless, feed your hungry, have universal health care, high quality education, water that is safe to drink out of the tap, and all the other privileges of a wealthy nation .. if you just make up your mind to tax the rich.
@@tealkerberus748
Except in Russia, Putin IS the rich.
This whole video is based off the principle of “sure he was a tyrant…but at least the trains ran on time.”
Kinda left out a huge part in the modern section. Outside the Western countries much of the world has and in many ways are still dealing with western (US and Euro) colonialism. This is a HUGE part of their reasoning to the people and it is very effective because surprise surprise people don’t like foreign countries dominating them. This is also the reason why western backed dictators can stay in power so long, because they make very one sided deals with western countries/companies for personal gain and are therefore propped up. Can’t say I’m surprised this wasn’t mentioned in this channel though.
Everything you believe is fake.
It's been more than 50 years since the Europeans gave up their empires. It's far past time for you to take responsibility for your own failures.
@@CedarHuntIt doesn't work like that in real life though, does it? What happenned when Japan tried to develop their own F-2 fighter program again?
@@endjfcar Wow. What a weird attempt to change the subject. 😂 Nobody is stopping history's losers from developing. They've just been working to fail for a long time now, and it's past time to stop trying to blame colonization.
@@CedarHunt interfering and installing other foreign governments doesn't mean give up their empires
Take care of your people and they will take care of you