Enlightened despotism
Enlightened despotism (also called benevolent despotism) was the use of Enlightenment ideas and principles by monarchs to enhance the central government's power (thereby their own power).[1] It is directly linked to the Enlightenment period in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
An enlightened despot is a non-democratic or authoritarian leader who exercises his political power for the benefit of the people, rather than exclusively for themselves or a small portion of the people.
Enlightened despots were monarchs who distinguished themselves from despots (in the ordinary sense) by the way they governed; they claimed to rule for the well-being of their subjects. For example, an enlightened despot may focus government priorities on matters of public importance such as healthcare, education, nonviolent population control, or physical infrastructure. He or she may be committed to peaceful relations and may even allow for some democratic decision-making to exist, such as public referendums, but did not propose reforms that would undermine their sovereignty or disrupt social order. As John Stuart Mill articulated: "Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement."[2]
Although their reigns were based upon Enlightenment principles, their beliefs about royal power were similar to those of regular despots. Enlightened despots believed that they were destined to be ruler the moment they were born.
Enlightened rulers may have played a part in the abolition of serfdom in Europe.[3]
Emperor Joseph II once said: "Everything for the people, nothing by the people".[4]
Famous enlightened despots
Characteristics
Most dictatorial regimes portray themselves as enlightened and often tend to regard democratic regimes as messy, inefficient, and corrupt. Additionally, many dictators may attempt to openly spread misinformation about their Enlightenment in an attempt to create a personality cult.
Like many political classifications, the title of enlightened despot suffers from its inherent subjectivity. Leaders such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Fidel Castro, Benito Mussolini (at least until the war against Ethiopia), António Salazar, Francisco Franco, Isaias Afwerki, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Augusto Pinochet, Lee Kuan Yew, Mao Zedong, Pervez Musharraf, Hugo Chavez, and the Medici dynasty can be characterized as enlightened despots. In all of these cases it depends largely on one's point of view as to just how "enlightened" or "dictatorial" they were. In many cases, dictators who serve in office for a very long period are more likely to be regarded as enlightened because they will often be forced to pay some attention to the public interest in order to remain in power and, more importantly, to be regarded as legitimate. Dictators who hold office for a brief period of time or are simply members of a rotating dictatorial elite (such as some juntas) may have less charismatic authority and prove to be forgettable and are therefore often easier to demonize.
In the Spanish language, the word dictablanda is sometimes used for a dictatorship that preserves some of the liberties and mechanisms of democracy.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Perry, Chase & Jacob 2015, p. 442.
- ↑ Mill 1989, p. 13.
- ↑ "Disappearance of Serfdom. France. England. Italy. Germany. Spain.". www.1902encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
- ↑ World of the Habsburgs. "Joseph II: The long-awaited son". Textmode. World of the Habsburgs. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
‘Everything for the people, nothing by the people’
References
- Biography.com Editors. "Joseph II Biography". A&E Television Networks. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
- Mill, John Stuart (25 August 1989). J. S. Mill: 'On Liberty' and Other Writings. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-37917-5.
- Perry, Marvin; Chase, Myrna; Jacob, James; Jacob, Margaret; Daly, Jonathan (1 January 2015). Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society, Volume I: To 1789. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-305-44548-2. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- World of the Habsburgs. "Joseph II: The long-awaited son". Textmode. World of the Habsburgs. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
‘Everything for the people, nothing by the people’
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