Dictators Handbook By: Bruce de Mesquita & Alastair Smith

The Dictators Handbook

Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics

Alastair Smith
How I consumed the book: Audible
Short Recap: I have never read or seen anything that helped me to understand the political mind on a local and global level like this book. No leader whether totalitarian or democratic is monolithic, they all have a coalition to answer to but the size of the coalition shapes what the government looks like. A dictator must gain power by removing the previous leader and they will earn and retain loyalty by paying just enough to their coalition. Often those that helps the dictator rise to power will find themselves replaced and see new more loyal individuals installed. Below are some of the economics of power:
• Steal form the people to keep their coalition rich
• Welcome aid from other nations (Because the aid money enables them to keep oppressing their people)
• Provide minimum infrastructure to allow population to labor (Min education and min healthcare)
• Nations with natural resources are the worst because they don’t rely on labor for tax revenue
• Wars are not fought to win, but to keep power. (Small democracies can defeat larger dictatorial nations)

Application to Business: This book can give you an entirely new perspective on leadership and why poor leaders can seem to stay around despite all evidence of their failure. Those poor leaders understand how to keep power and loyalty. Keep your coalition small, reward loyalty and punish dissention. Those types of leaders will find themselves overthrown when weakness is sensed, because loyalty lasts only if their coalition feels that they can be taken care of. When that comes into doubt change can happen. I will evaluate leaders and CEOs from a different perspective from here out.
Application to Life: When we vote as individuals or wonder about big picture issues we often don’t think about the unintended consequences from what seems to be the right thing. However, we can also consider how we can get good things accomplished with the same mindset of a small coalition. Whether it be within a family or work it doesn’t always take a majority or anywhere near to get change to happen. If you create a small but strong coalition and provide some sort of reward you can make real change happen.

Recommendation: Absolutely Worth the Read (One of my favorite books now)


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