DOCSLIB.ORG

When Will a Dictator Be Good?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
When Will a Dictator Be Good? When will a dictator be good? by Ling Shen Handout prepared by team Dixit: Denzel Diego Pawel Table of Contents 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2 The Model............................................................................................................................................. 3 3 The Exogenous Growth Model ............................................................................................................. 6 3.1 Dictatorship ................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Democracy ..................................................................................................................................... 9 4 Democratization ................................................................................................................................. 13 4.1 The incentive of political transition in the bad dictatorship ....................................................... 13 4.2 The incentive of political transition in the good dictatorship ..................................................... 15 5 External effect and endogenous growth ............................................................................................ 17 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Criticisms and extensions ...................................................................................................................... 21 1 Introduction Background Economists have realized the importance of political institutions in shaping economic performance. Most academic studies of political economy (e.g., Shepsleand Weingast 1995; Cox 1997; Persson and Tabellini 2000, 2003) focus on the democratic political system, where formal political institutions, such as the constitution, the rule of law, and the election system, are already well advanced. However, few studies shed light on dictatorship, although most people on earth live in such regimes. A puzzling phenomenon in dictatorial economies is that they can achieve dramatically different economic growth rates. Good and Bad Dictators Good dictators will: o Invest in public education, infrastructure o Establish rule of law to encourage private investment, subsidizes R&D, etc Bad dictators will: o Transfers large fraction of social wealth to herself Both are willing to tax citizens Purpose of the Paper: To provide a theoretical model that illustrates underlying determinants of a dictator’s behavior 2 The Model The model is based on three different components: o Economic growth is generated by decentralized investment . The higher the private investment, the higher the aggregate technology level . Private investment positive external effect on aggregate technology level This represents endogenous growth . **We will also consider exogenous growth in a later section o Political power affects economic performance through the redistribution policy . 2D vector- tax rate and social transfer . Social transfer policy = measurement of “goodness” “Bad” and “good” are statements about the amount of the social transfer o Democracy is growth-enhancing in the current model, because it protects decentralized investment from expropriative taxation Sequential Process of the Model is as follows: 1. Beginning of period t, technology level 퐴푡is determined by exogenous factors (section 3), or by endogenous variables in t-1 (section 5) 2. Citizens decide whether or not to begin a revolution 3. If there is no revolution, or if the revolution fails, the ruler can keep political power. She decides her social transfer scheme (to be good or bad) 4. If revolution is successful, the ruler is killed and citizens establish democracy 5. Citizens decide whether to invest after watching dictator’s political state and behavior (i.e. 푎 is determined) 6. Citizens produce output 7. Tax rate τ determined either by dictator or democratic system. Tax revenue collected and citizens receive remaining output Additional assumptions are included for the sake of simplicity in the model: o Tax rate is determined after production to reflects the idea that taxation is key property of dictatorship o Social transfer is paid to citizens before production o We assume there is a perfect capital market with 0% interest rate. o The more that income is taxed in dictatorship compared to democracy, the more incentive there is to democratize. o All debts cleared at the end of each period o Agents are risk neutral . Citizen’s net income (without weapon spending): 푌푎푡 = 푦푎푡 1 − 휏푡 + 푠푎푡 − 퐼푎푡 푒퐴푡 . Ruler’s net income: 푌푟푢푙푒푟 , 푡 = 휏푡 푦푎푡 − 푠푎푡 푑a To fully understand the mechanisms of the model, the economic and political characteristics must be defined. They are as follows: Economic environment o The economy is an infinite horizon economy o There are two agents: the dictator and continuum Λ of citizens o Citizens and rulers live forever (if ruler isn’t killed during revolution) o Citizens born with different abilities (invariant over time) . Each citizen is distinguished by independently determined value: a휖Λ= [0,1] 퐼푎푡 o Production Function (citizen a , time t): 푦푎푡 = 퐴푡 푁푎휆 , 휆> 1 . 푦푎푡 = output of individual a in period t . 퐴푡 = aggregate technology level . N =natural resources per capita . 휆 = gross return on investment (for mathematical purposes) . 퐼푎푡 = indicator function of investment in period t =1 if citizen a invests in time t; =0 if citizen a does not invest . a = value 휖 [0,1] that uniquely represents an individual citizen and their productive abilities These values are ordered within the continuum Λ 휖 [0,1] o 0 = no ability o 1 = perfect ability 푎 represents a certain threshold ability level, above which citizens will choose to invest; citizens with a value a <푎 will not choose to invest o The return rate for each citizen a is (N(휆-1)a)/ e . e = the cost percentage of investing in technology e퐴푡 represents the investment cost in technology . >1: citizen a invests Political Environment o Assume the initial political state is dictatorship . The ruler is unproductive and can tax citizens at any rate she chooses . The ruler can redistribute tax revenue as she pleases . Dictatorship impedes growth of productivity due to taxation o Political institutions are represented by the vector (τ, s) where: . τ = tax rate; between [0, 휏 ], 휏< 1 휏< 1 reflects the sustenance (threshold tax) level of the citizens. If the tax rate exceeds this level, they will not be able to live properly and will be willing to start a revolution. s = social transfer financed via taxation . 푠푎 = social transfer obtained by individual a o Bad dictator: Consumes all tax revenue; 푠푎 = 0 ∀ 푎. o Good dictator: Shares benefits with some citizens; 푠푎 > 0 for some a . The author refers to the dictator’s partial sharing as group-specific social transfer. Only a certain portion of the citizenry will gain from the dictator’s chosen social transfer policy. • Dictator knows distribution of private ability, citizens’ investment decisions • She cannot distinguish individuals by ability; hence group specific transfer is based on investment. In other words, the rich will benefit from the dictator’s social transfer policy because they have invested the most In the model, a democracy is formed if a revolution is successful. The following are key qualities of a democratic system: • There is no ruler. The tax rate is determined by all citizens via “1 person, 1 vote” majority voting system 푑푒푚 • Every citizen gets the same transfer: 푠푎 = 푠 , ∀ 푎 • Social transfer is not group specific. This means no certain class of citizens will receive more benefits than the rest of society. • Allowing group specific transfer does not qualitatively change result about dictator behavior. 3 The Exogenous Growth Model 3.1 Dictatorship Assumptions: 1. Repeated game with finite periods. 2. Initial political framework is dictatorship. 3. Technology level 퐴푡 grows exogenously. 4. Tax rate is set by the dictator after production at휏푑푖푐 = 휏 regardless of whether she is good or bad. 5. Tax policy cannot be used as a tool to encourage citizens to invest (i.e. a promise to reduce the tax rate is not credible). 6. The dictator (if she is a good one) chooses the group of citizens that will receive the amount 푠푡as a social transfer. In fact only citizens who invest will receive a social transfer푠푡 = 퐴푡 푆, where푆 is the steady state of social transfer to technology level. 7. A citizen will invest if: (푒 − 푆) 푎 ≥ 푎 (푆) = 푁 1 − 휏푡 [휆 − 1] 푦푎푡 1 − 휏푡 + 푠푎푡 − 퐼푎푡 푒퐴푡 ≥ 푦푎푡 1 − 휏푡 퐴푡 푁휆푎 1 − 휏푡 + 퐴푡 푆 − 푒퐴푡 ≥ 퐴푡 푁푎 1 − 휏푡 푎[퐴푡 푁휆 1 − 휏푡 − 퐴푡 푁 1 − 휏푡 ] ≥ 푒퐴푡 − 퐴푡 푆 퐴 (푒 − 푆) 푎 ≥ 푡 퐴푡 푁 1 − 휏푡 [휆 − 1] The investment threshold can be lowered by increasing transfer 푆. Some citizens will still invest if 푆 = 0, an assumption made to avoid corner solutions so that 푎 푆 < 1, ∀ 푆 ≥ 0. This means that when 푆 = 0, 푒 − 0 푎 0 = 푁 1 − 휏푡 휆 − 1 푒 1 > 푁 1 − 휏푡 휆 − 1 풆 ퟏ − 흉 > (퐴1) 풕 푵 흀 − ퟏ And the net benefit of investment for the individual with 푎 = 푁 휆 − 1 1 − 휏푡 is greater than the cost of investment. Or, what is the same, the net return rate of investment is 푵[흀 − ퟏ](ퟏ − 흉 ) 풕 > 1 풆 Dictator’s Income Maximization The dictator
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter One: Introduction
    CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF IL DUCE TRACING POLITICAL TRENDS IN THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN MEDIA DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF FASCISM by Ryan J. Antonucci Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the History Program YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY August, 2013 Changing Perceptions of il Duce Tracing Political Trends in the Italian-American Media during the Early Years of Fascism Ryan J. Antonucci I hereby release this thesis to the public. I understand that this thesis will be made available from the OhioLINK ETD Center and the Maag Library Circulation Desk for public access. I also authorize the University or other individuals to make copies of this thesis as needed for scholarly research. Signature: Ryan J. Antonucci, Student Date Approvals: Dr. David Simonelli, Thesis Advisor Date Dr. Brian Bonhomme, Committee Member Date Dr. Martha Pallante, Committee Member Date Dr. Carla Simonini, Committee Member Date Dr. Salvatore A. Sanders, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Date Ryan J. Antonucci © 2013 iii ABSTRACT Scholars of Italian-American history have traditionally asserted that the ethnic community’s media during the 1920s and 1930s was pro-Fascist leaning. This thesis challenges that narrative by proving that moderate, and often ambivalent, opinions existed at one time, and the shift to a philo-Fascist position was an active process. Using a survey of six Italian-language sources from diverse cities during the inauguration of Benito Mussolini’s regime, research shows that interpretations varied significantly. One of the newspapers, Il Cittadino Italo-Americano (Youngstown, Ohio) is then used as a case study to better understand why events in Italy were interpreted in certain ways.
    [Show full text]
  • U-M·I University Microfilms International a Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road
    Castro's Cuba and Stroessner's Paraguay: A comparison of the totalitarian/authoritarian taxonomy. Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Sondrol, Paul Charles. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 05/10/2021 11:08:31 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185284 INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photogr2,pb and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted.. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this -reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is inciuded in reduced form at the back of the book.
    [Show full text]
  • The Economic Foundations of Authoritarian Rule
    University of South Carolina Scholar Commons Theses and Dissertations 2017 The conomicE Foundations of Authoritarian Rule Clay Robert Fuller University of South Carolina Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Fuller, C. R.(2017). The Economic Foundations of Authoritarian Rule. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/4202 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you by Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE by Clay Robert Fuller Bachelor of Arts West Virginia State University, 2008 Master of Arts Texas State University, 2010 Master of Arts University of South Carolina, 2014 Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science College of Arts and Sciences University of South Carolina 2017 Accepted by: John Hsieh, Major Professor Harvey Starr, Committee Member Timothy Peterson, Committee Member Gerald McDermott, Committee Member Cheryl L. Addy, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School © Copyright Clay Robert Fuller, 2017 All Rights Reserved. ii DEDICATION for Henry, Shannon, Mom & Dad iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks goes to God, the unconditional love and support of my wife, parents and extended family, my dissertation committee, Alex, the institutions of the United States of America, the State of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, the Department of Political Science faculty and staff, the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies faculty and staff, the Center for Teaching Excellence, undergraduate political science majors at South Carolina who helped along the way, and the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Cults of Personality, Preference Falsification, and the Dictator's
    Cults of personality, preference falsification, and the dictator's dilemma Charles Crabtreex, Holger L. Kerny, and David A. Siegelz Abstract: We provide a novel rational explanation for why cults of personality exist: they solve the dictator's adverse selection problem in assigning subordinates to roles within the regime. Participation in a cult of personality is psychologically costly whenever it involves preference falsification, with the costs varying across individuals. Importantly, low psychological costs of preference falsification are correlated with traits the dictator values, such as unscrupulousness and ruthlessness, which we collectively term disposition-based competence. Under a wide variety of circumstances, this correlation makes participation in cults of personality informative from the dictator's point of view, allowing him to hire loyal and competent subordinates for the most important regime positions. In contrast to earlier formal work, our model implies that dictators can use cults of personality to avoid the loyalty-competence trade-off when promoting subordinates. We thank Quintin Beazer, Jens Grosser, Timur Kuran, Andrew Little, Eddy Malesky, Melanie Manion, Arturas Rozenas, Rory Truex, Nils Weidmann, and participants at the 2017 MPSA Conference and the 2017 ESTA workshop at Konstanz University for their very helpful feedback. x PhD cand., Department of Political Science, University of Michigan. y Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Florida State University. z Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Duke University. In 2001, Saparmurad Niyazov, who ruled Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006, announced the publication of his first book. Called Ruhnama (The Book of the Soul), it contained answers to \all of life's questions" and became required reading in all schools, universities, and workplaces.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Franco in the Basque Nation
    Salve Regina University Digital Commons @ Salve Regina Pell Scholars and Senior Theses Salve's Dissertations and Theses Summer 7-14-2011 The Effect of Franco in the Basque Nation Kalyna Macko Salve Regina University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/pell_theses Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Macko, Kalyna, "The Effect of Franco in the Basque Nation" (2011). Pell Scholars and Senior Theses. 68. https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/pell_theses/68 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Salve's Dissertations and Theses at Digital Commons @ Salve Regina. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pell Scholars and Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Salve Regina. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Macko 1 The Effect of Franco in the Basque Nation By: Kalyna Macko Pell Senior Thesis Primary Advisor: Dr. Jane Bethune Secondary Advisor: Dr. Clark Merrill Macko 2 Macko 3 Thesis Statement: The combined nationalist sentiments and opposition of these particular Basques to the Fascist regime of General Franco explained the violence of the terrorist group ETA both throughout his rule and into the twenty-first century. I. Introduction II. Basque Differences A. Basque Language B. Basque Race C. Conservative Political Philosophy III. The Formation of the PNV A. Sabino Arana y Goiri B. Re-Introduction of the Basque Culture C. The PNV as a Representation of the Basques IV. The Oppression of the Basques A. Targeting the Basques B. Primo de Rivera C. General Francisco Franco D. Bombing of Guernica E.
    [Show full text]
  • Rise of Totalitarianism Ch
    RISE OF TOTALITARIANISM CH. 14.1-Revolutions in Russia Objective Review 1. What led to the Russian Revolution? 2. What was the March Revolution? 3. What were Lenin’s reforms? Bolshevik Revolution • Lenin returns: Lenin in disguise, Petrograd, April 1917 w/o beard – Germany knows Lenin would stir unrest • Hurt Russian war effort • Returns in armored RR car, under German protection –* “Peace, Land, and Bread” Bolsheviks in Power • Red Guard – Armed Bolshevik enforcers • Arrest Provisional govt. officials, later disappear… • Royal family Murdered • * Russians support Bolsheviks -Call for Immediate peace with the Germans in WWI – Peasants receive farmland – Workers control factories – March 1918 sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Civil War Rages in Russia 1918-1920 • Red Army 1920 Lenin cleanses the earth – Bolsheviks • Vladimir Lenin is leader – Leon Trotsky military genius – Joseph Stalin political genius • White Army – Any one who was not a Bolshevik – Western nations, U.S. (sent aid) • Bolsheviks victorious • 14 million die (Due to Revolution) Lenin Restores Order • Lenin needs to restore industry • 1921 New Economic Policy (NEP) – Major industries, banks, ran by the state – Some small businesses, foreign investment encouraged – 1928 econ. back to pre- WWI levels Political Reforms • Nationalism seen as a threat Karl Marx 1818-1883 – Russia organized into small, self ran republics Known as: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics AKA: USSR, or Soviet Union • Bolshevik party becomes the Communist Party – Idea from Karl Marx – Est. dictatorship of the Communist Party not of the proletariat like Marx said Stalin Becomes dictator • 1922 Lenin suffers Leon Trotsky stroke – Who will take power? • Trotsky or Stalin • 1922-1929 struggle Joseph Stalin ensues – 1929 Stalin (political genius) forces Trotsky into exile – Stalin becomes leader (dictator) ET FINISH ALL NOTES 55…#13…BUT WAIT FOR MORE INSTRUCTIONS! Totalitarianism Chapter 14, Section 2 What is Totalitarianism? • A government that takes total control over every aspect of public and private life.
    [Show full text]
  • Fascism Rises in Europe
    3 Fascism Rises in Europe MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY In These dictators changed the •fascism •Nazism response to political turmoil and course of history, and the world • Benito • Mein Kampf economic crises, Italy and is still recovering from their Mussolini • lebensraum Germany turned to totalitarian abuse of power. • Adolf Hitler dictators. SETTING THE STAGE Many democracies, including the United States, Britain, and France, remained strong despite the economic crisis caused by the Great Depression. However, millions of people lost faith in democratic govern- ment. In response, they turned to an extreme system of government called fas- cism. Fascists promised to revive the economy, punish those responsible for hard times, and restore order and national pride. Their message attracted many people who felt frustrated and angered by the peace treaties that followed World War I and by the Great Depression. TAKING NOTES Fascism’s Rise in Italy Comparing and Contrasting Use a chart Fascism (FASH•IHZ•uhm) was a new, militant political movement that empha- to compare Mussolini's sized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader. Unlike communism, fascism rise to power and his had no clearly defined theory or program. Nevertheless, most Fascists shared goals with Hitler's. several ideas. They preached an extreme form of nationalism, or loyalty to one’s country. Fascists believed that nations must struggle—peaceful states were Hitler Mussolini doomed to be conquered. They pledged loyalty to an authoritarian leader who Rise: Rise: guided and brought order to the state. In each nation, Fascists wore uniforms of a certain color, used special salutes, and held mass rallies.
    [Show full text]
  • Fascism and Totalitarianism
    World History Social Studies Unit: 8A Lesson: 03 Fascism and Totalitarianism Fascism is a philosophy or system of government characterized by strict social and economic control; a strong, centralized government usually headed by a dictator; and often a policy of belligerent nationalism. Benito Mussolini was a socialist prior to World War I, but as he fought for Italy, he became a nationalist intent on uniting Italians and ensuring their obedience to a central authority. Fascists did not support the formation of political parties since this disrupted the unity of the state, and they did not support democracy because the concerns of the people were secondary to the good of the nation. A strong fascist nation had the right to build its power by controlling weaker nations. Mussolini was named prime minister of Italy in 1922 and retained control through 1943. In Germany, the Weimar Republic, established at the end of World War I, was challenged from the political left by communists who believed in world revolution and from the political right by fascists and extreme nationalists who opposed the democratic goals of the republic. Adolf Hitler attempted to unite Germany as a fascist state. Because of the influences of fascism, it was natural for Hitler to destroy anything which threatened the unified nation, hence his fixation with purifying the dominant Aryan race and his insistence on totalitarian rule. In Japan, economic depression increased public dissatisfaction with the government and bolstered ideas of nationalism and protection of Japanese interests. In 1932 the military defied the civil government and established a military dictatorship in Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Capitalism Or Socialism: Which One Is More Democratic? Dinesh D’Souza Why Is Socialism So Popular?
    Capitalism or Socialism: Which One Is More Democratic? Dinesh D’Souza Why is socialism so popular? Less than ten years ago, you couldn’t refer to “socialism” in a positive way and hope to have a career in American politics. Socialism was referred to as “the s-word.” Now it is affirmed, either explicitly or implicitly, by just about everyone on the left. And amazingly, given socialism’s record of failure, the socialists seem to be gaining ground. Why? What makes socialism so attractive to so many? Socialism, according to its proponents, is more democratic and therefore more moral than capitalism. Leftist filmmaker Michael Moore explains it for us: “Democratic socialism means everyone has a seat at the table and everybody gets a slice of the pie.” The famed socialist writer, Irving Howe, wrote something similar in his 1982 autobiography: “We believe that the democracy… in our political life should also be extended deeply into economic life.” The basic idea here is that socialism is vindicated through its roots in popular consent. If a majority of people, working through their elected representatives, declares something to be a public entitlement—say, free college or free healthcare—then they are justified in extracting resources from those who create wealth to pay for it. As Nathan Robinson argues in his book, Why You Should Be a Socialist, the moral imperative is to place the economy under the control of “the people.” Sounds good—at least, superficially—until you dig a bit below the surface. First, what direct control do “the people” really have over any government institution? What control do the British people have over the National Health Service? What control do Americans have over the Department of Motor Vehicles or the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Democracy and Autocracy Readings
    Autocracy (Dictatorship) A dictatorship is a government headed by a dictator. Originally a legitimate military office in the Roman Republic, the dictator was given his powers by the Senate. The dictator had absolute power, but for a limited time. In the twentieth century, the term dictatorship has come to mean a government in which absolute power is concentrated in the hands of a dictator and sometimes his cronies. Many dictators have held the formal title of "President", but wield extraordinary, often non- constitutional or de facto powers. Dictators can come to power in a variety of different ways. They can be elected (see below), be appointed by the resident ruling party or Communist hierarchy, or inherit their position from a deceased relative. Still other modern dictators seize power in a military coup d’tat, and are supported by the military. The dictator generally controls the three state powers: legislative, executive and judicial. In a dictatorship, there is not periodical universal, free, direct and secret polling of the citizens to elect the leaders. Sometimes dictators can initially obtain power from democratic elections (like Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany), but shortly after being elected the dictator will ban all opposing parties and cancel all future elections (see human rights). Though free elections will never occur under a dictatorship, sometimes dictators orchestrate phony elections in an attempt to grant themselves some illusion of democratic legitimacy and public support. Usually, the dictator runs for "re-election" unopposed, with voters being asked to answer a simple "yes or no" ballot on the leader's continued rule.
    [Show full text]
  • Love and Exploitation: Personality Cults, Their Characteristics
    LOVE AND EXPLOITATION: PERSONALITY CULTS, THEIR CHARACTERISTICS, THEIR CREATION, AND MODERN EXAMPLES By SARAH GAIL HUNTER (Under the direction of Sherry Lowrance) ABSTRACT This thesis seeks to uncover the mystery behind a commonly used term: personality cults. Made famous during the reign of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, personality cults are written about but not fully explained from a theoretical perspective. In this study, I detail a theory of personality cults by exploring the characteristics that make up personality cults, how they are created, and demonstrate this through three case studies. The cases used are Russian president Vladimir Putin, Cuba’s former leader, Fidel Castro, and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. INDEX WORDS: political culture, personality cults, Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, political leadership LOVE AND EXPLOITATION: PERSONALITY CULTS, THEIR CHARACTERISTICS, THEIR CREATION, AND MODERN EXAMPLES By SARAH GAIL HUNTER B.S., Emory University, 2010 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS ATHENS, GA 2012 © 2012 Sarah Gail Hunter All Rights Reserved LOVE AND EXPLOITATION: PERSONALITY CULTS, THEIR CHARACTERISTICS, THEIR CREATION, AND MODERN EXAMPLES By SARAH GAIL HUNTER Major Professor: Sherry Lowrance Committee: Howard J. Wiarda Han Park Electronic Version Approved Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction…….………………………………............................................1
    [Show full text]
  • The Dictator's Dilemma
    William B. Snyderwine The Dictator’s Dilemma Page 1 of 19 The Dictator’s Dilemma The Role of Social Media in Revolutions William B. Snyderwine Abstract: This paper develops a revolution model incorporating the effects of social media. It is seen that social media changes the outcomes of traditional revolution models due its effects on the cost/benefit analysis of would-be participants. The paper also considers various strategies for the dictator to stop the revolution in light of social media. Finally, the paper offers extensions and different ways to evaluate the effectiveness of social media in a revolution I would especially like to thank Dr. Charles Becker for his helpful comments and guidance. William B. Snyderwine The Dictator’s Dilemma Page 2 of 19 Introduction So, you want to be a dictator? These days, it is tougher to lead an authoritarian regime in the face of democratic ideals, free speech and globalized media. Look to the Arab Spring, the inspiration for this paper, as an example of dictators overthrown by these modern forces. Rebels mobilized in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya against longstanding dictators to achieve a self- determined life. This paper hopes to find ways to help you, the would-be dictator, stay in power. In order to do this, the paper will explore and model the factors that encourage the overthrow of a dictator and hence inform how the dictator can rebuff any rebellions before they start. All revolutions differ; perhaps, however, modern and future revolutions have fundamentally changed due to the internet and social media. The greatest problem for would-be revolutionaries is organization.
    [Show full text]