The Rules for Rulers is a thought-provoking and insightful book written by political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and economist Alastair Smith. The book explores the dynamics of political power and rule, and outlines the rules that dictators and leaders follow to stay in power. The authors draw from historical and contemporary examples to provide a comprehensive understanding of how power operates in political systems.
The central concept of The Rules for Rulers is that the ability to rule and stay in power is not contingent on the will of the people, but rather on the support of a small group of key individuals. According to Bueno de Mesquita and Smith, these key individuals – or the “selectorate” – hold the power to choose and remove a leader from power. The selectorate can consist of a small group of elites, a larger group of party members, or even the entire citizenry of a country.
The authors identify a set of rules that dictators and leaders follow in order to maintain the support of the selectorate and stay in power. These rules include:
1. Keep your winning coalition as small as possible – By keeping the support of a small, loyal group of individuals, leaders can minimize the risk of losing power. This often involves rewarding the loyalty of this group with political appointments, wealth, or other privileges.
2. Control the flow of revenue – Leaders must control the resources and wealth of a country in order to maintain power. This can involve controlling natural resources, tax revenue, or other sources of income.
3. Pay your key supporters just enough to keep them loyal – Leaders must balance the need to reward their key supporters with the need to maintain and increase their own power and wealth.
4. Ensure that nobody external to the coalition has control over it – It is important for leaders to ensure that outside forces, such as foreign powers or opposition groups, do not have the ability to influence or disrupt the loyalty of the selectorate.
The Rules for Rulers provides a fascinating insight into the dynamics of political power and the strategies that leaders employ to maintain their positions. The book challenges the popular perception that leaders are solely accountable to the will of the people and highlights the crucial role of a small group of key individuals in determining who holds power.
Overall, The Rules for Rulers is an important and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the dynamics of political power and the strategies employed by leaders to maintain their positions. It provides valuable insights into the nature of political rule and the factors that influence who holds power in a society.
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Making this video caused me to need a new office… and to terrorize my neighbor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2AMBafWr08
As applicable today as ever. Thank you.
Wow.
Signed up and paid to be a Bonnie Bee but cannot access any of those videos
Literally many people in the world believe that their state leaders are really stupid and that if they had the power they would fix the country. they really need to see this video
The king of my country ones said that as a king he does not make false promises or false hope to people. He said, unlike in a democracy where leader promise everything to the people and don't follow through, I promise exactly what I can deliver and so far my work is my proof.
"Maybe you'll be different."
this may be why ai will be a huge proble. AI will be like oil in advanced economies and will let the few have all the power. If this is the case we are in he way of the biggest technological dictatorships we have ever seen.
I sometimes think about how now there is a not insignificant number of young (early-to-mid 20s) local/state level elected politicians in minor positions of power, hoping to become presidents and prime ministers one day, that were directly inspired to enter politics in their teenage years by this video. With 19 million views, there must be quite a few of them, particularly young Americans.
I didn't see the thumbnail, so I thought this was a video about the requirements to make a measuring ruler.
We are watching this happen in front of our eyes right now.
I feel bad for his office mate
Dziękujemy.
Thanks!
Thanks! I bought the Dictator's Handbook after watching this, and found it instructive.
Sounds like committee's
Vaya este video resume fielmente cómo funciona la democracia y el capitalismo.
Vaya este video resume cómo funciona el capitalismo.
In other words, "The Prince"
I guess Presidents and Prime Ministers are just dictators playing by different rules.
people stay in power not by money but by threatening to kill their rivals with guns
Why rulers have rules? İts just a stick we measue stuff with
The entire proposition is based on the notion that ordinary people have no power over the ruler and keys. But many governments have been toppled by ordinary citizens.
I like how there are subtitles for basically every other language except English
what is the couse of rebobablutions, it is what you say you need in a goverment.
the american: the bri*ish was not allowing them to vote at ANYTHING
the frech: the king gave no money to make the country better
the russian: the same as the french
Money rules all,who controls money controls the system….in a 'democracy' (dictatorship of capitalist class)this is as true as other types of dictatorships.But it's very much sophisticated and complex in a democracy so it is very difficult for the masses to understand.
Hay wait a minute, that map at the start, I know that island!
That's Lemnos!
G 3ij joub4iihoojhi
life sucks
Absolutely brilliant video. I intend to share this with my students