The Rules for Rulers

Introduction

• Key Question: Why don’t rulers act in beneficial ways instead of selfish, short-sighted ones?
• Main Idea: The throne appears omnipotent but heavily influences those who sit on it.
• Objective: Understand the structural rules that govern power.

Core Premise

• No Man Rules Alone: A ruler needs others to act on their behalf.
• Power Through Keys: Key supporters (military, bureaucrats, etc.) are essential for maintaining power.

Rule 1: Get Key Supporters on Your Side

• Dictatorships: Few key supporters (e.g., generals, regional leaders).
• Democracies: Many key supporters.
• Foundation of Power: Similar rules apply regardless of the number of key supporters.

Rule 2: Control the Treasure

• Resource Distribution: Ensure treasure is raised and distributed to maintain loyalty.
• Spending: Limited resources mean balancing aiding citizens and keeping key supporters loyal.
• Consequence: Spending on citizens risks losing support from key supporters.

Rule 3: Minimize Key Supporters

• Unnecessary Keys: Remove those who are no longer vital to reserve resources.
• Purge After Coup: New dictators often remove old allies and integrate previous regime’s supporters.
• Efficiency: Fewer key supporters mean fewer divides, but it increases the risk from within.

Democratic Systems

• Fractured Power: Power is divided; must manage many key supporters (voters, interest groups).
• Blocks of Voters: Targeting specific voting blocks (e.g., elderly, business owners) can sway elections.
• Voter Manipulation: Enhance voting ease for key blocks and hinder it for others.
• Key Individual Supporters: Influence through legal loopholes, laws, and contracts.

Taxes and Revolts

• Tax Rates: Dictatorships have high equivalent tax rates through direct wealth extraction.
• Democracies: Lower tax rates, focusing on increasing productivity and quality of life.
• Economic Stability: Democracies align more with citizens because productivity benefits both.
• Resource-Rich Dictatorships: Stable but often oppressive due to resource-based wealth.
• Risk of Revolution: Poor, educated, and semi-connected populace increases the risk of revolts.

Political Dynamics

• Dictatorships vs Democracies: Differences in handling wealth, quality of life, and stability.
• Quality of Life: Better in democracies due to alignment between rulers’ needs and citizens’ productivity.
• Risk Calculation: In democracies, the risks of coups often outweigh the benefits.

Conclusion

• Inescapable Power Structures: These rules apply universally, from global leaders to local chairpersons.
• Zeroth Rule: Without power, you cannot effect change.
• Hope for Difference: Understand the game to potentially make a beneficial difference.