Major Forms of World Government
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Today, the basic ideas underpinning democracy--that government exists for the benefit of the people, and that it must have their consent to be legitimate--may seem obvious. Even dictators pay lip service to these ideas. But the logic of democracy hasn't always been widely accepted. In fact, throughout most of recorded history, nearly all rulers claimed absolute authority. This book traces the long evolution of government "by the people," from its roots in the ancient world to the present day.
Dictatorship is a form of government in which an individual or a small group wields power without legal or constitutional constraints. Dictators come in many varieties. Some are military officers who overthrow an elected government. Others are democratically elected politicians who, once in office, decide to discard democracy. Some dictators use power to transform society. Others expressly try to prevent social or political change. Still others don't appear to be motivated by any ideology, whether liberal or conservative. Instead, they use power simply to enrich themselves or bolster their egos. This book examines the diverse forms of dictatorship. It is filled with interesting and instructive case histories.