The Poor Tyrant!

Why do dictators win elections?  The answer to this is relatively straightforward–they hold fixed elections.  Everyone knows they’re fixed and everyone knows who will win before the balloting even begins.  If the actual numerical results aren’t fixed, then the rules regarding who may contest the elections and who may vote in them certainly are.  Dictatorial regimes hold elections to demonstrate to the world that, not only are they giving their citizens a choice in their leadership, but also that their citizens resoundingly love them and wouldn’t prefer a more representative, and perhaps less repressive, government. If all of that is Continue reading The Poor Tyrant!