Citizens can love their political leaders based on various metrics. These metrics transcend their leadership styles to check their efficiency in providing good dividends of governance to the people. Historically, governments form to provide, protect, and preserve citizens within their borders. Territorial sovereignty allows countries to choose governance styles that suit them. Without international interference, a widespread of different governance styles exist globally today.
Read Also: Chances of Survival from a Stroke Low in Underdeveloped Countries
Idi Amin African Dictator
Africa has seen its share of various political styles. While democracy has gained relatively good traction in the subcontinent, several countries are still under dictatorship. A distinguishing feature between these styles of political systems is the approach to governance by the political heads. Dictators in Africa are synonymous with bad government, corruption, impunity, and gross neglect of the rule of law. These problems have led to instability in government in several countries. The desire to escape the pangs of underdevelopment has led to coups and countercoups in Africa. It is however vital to understand that Africa is not the only continent with dictatorial leaders. However, Africa seems to be the most destabilized by these autocratic regimes. The reason is not far-fetched. African leaders do not understand how important it is for them to be accepted. Even with a desire to siphon funds, African dictators can do better in providing good government to their subjects.
A benevolent dictator is a term that describes where the authoritarian leader exercises absolute power but for the benefit of the state. Africa has lacked this benevolence from its rulers. The desire to take and not give back to the state is the cause of various political uprisings visible in the continent. However, it is also vital to understand dictators can do better in Africa, become loved by their citizens, and still get filthy rich if they want. These ideas are not mutually exclusive from each other. Understanding that a country’s growth links directly to its financial benefit, lasting continuity, and citizen endearment is a dictator’s starter pack to being loved. African dictators should understand they can have long, fruitful, and happy terms in power if the people see benefits from their leadership. To gain that respect, dictators should think of ways to create good governance for the citizens.
The loved dictator
The issue of leaving legacies is deep-rooted in African culture. Every leader, even dictators, wants to be remembered for something good. The arguments made by dictatorial regimes and the peculiarities of Africa call for more sustained leadership to affect change. The problem is that these changes are not done even after a long time in office. Thus, the citizens start to revolt, leading to protests that might eventually lead to a coup or even the killing of the dictators.
Undoubtedly, history is not kind to rulers perceived as evil or wasteful. They lose the support of their citizens, which can continue even for many generations of the ruler’s family. The idea of dictatorship, while one may argue that it does not fit the present political systems of the 21st century, can also bring leaders with the desire to make a change. Sadly, no African dictator has gotten into the ranks of benevolent dictators. They usually are only remembered for corruption. Compared to loved dictators historically from countries like China, there is a lack of love in Africa which the leaders must correct.
Read Also: Public Health: Nigeria; the Giant With No Health Care
The economy
The biggest problem faced by countries ruled by dictators is the problem of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. Usually, African dictators do not care about the economy and welfare of their citizens. These leaders are only interested in amassing wealth for themselves and sending it to overseas bank accounts. However, a logical inference from these countries is that when a country becomes wealthy, the citizens can be happy, and the dictator can steal even more as the pie becomes bigger. Therefore, a guide to being loved as a dictator is to develop the economic situation of the country. Generally, citizens are not usually bothered by the activities of the people in leadership when they have good economic dividends. With jobs to focus on, there is less time worrying about how long someone has stayed in governance or what he is doing in the political office. Economic growth is vital for a country’s welfare. Besides, it is much easier to gain more from an economically developed country by both the citizens and their rulers. To be loved, dictators must focus on policies that permit economic growth. These may come with job creation, trade policies, and other economic development tools. African countries are among the very least economically developed globally. This lack of wealth causes the citizens to be on the toes of their leaders. Unlike in Democratic settings where governments have a fixed period in office, dictators stay longer and sometimes for life. With no other alternative, the citizens openly revolt against their leaders. A loved dictator does not put all the country’s wealth in a foreign account for personal use. When citizens see their ruler investing in their country, they develop feelings of love for him. A loved dictator understands the importance of investing in his country for his citizens’ welfare, and this welfare extends to himself. A more productive nation ensures more wealth is shared and, of course, more wealth for the dictator. Personal wealth and the general support of their citizens is every dictator’s dream.
Health Care
A functional health sector is also vital for citizens. Even in democratic settings, there are always discussions surrounding health services every election year. The ability of a political head to ensure and provide adequate health services ensures citizens always root for him. Africa has several diseases, poor prognoses, and poorer health facilities; compared to its Western counterparts. While democratic leaders make it a campaign point of duty to promise to meet the health needs of their populace in a bid to win reelection, dictators fall into the harm of ignoring this vital sector.
Even beyond the apparent benefits of a functional health system to the citizens, the dictator also immensely benefits. For example, certain urgent conditions such as a stroke may require an immediate response. Without proper health infrastructures in a country, the dictator, and potentially even his family, are at health risk. There are usually better health benefits in quick response than in the time taken to travel to France for example. African dictators mostly fail to realize the possibility of health failure. With so many citizens under their care benefiting from a viable health system, the dictator may benefit directly. He could also gain indirectly if his relatives require emergency health services. History is with so many examples of leaders having a momentary health challenge.
The difference between those that survived or not was in the response time. This response time results from a functional system with adequate infrastructure and personnel. Also, the recent global pandemic adds to a growing need for leaders to strengthen their country’s health systems. In varying instances, it might be difficult or impossible to travel for medical tourism. Those points keep the dictators at the mercy of their health infrastructure. Thus, there is an incentive to develop such a vital sector for more functionality.
The result of healthcare negligence is a wave of widespread anger and protests. Citizens require assurance of their health and safety. A dictator must ensure the necessary productivity of this sector. Citizens defend their leaders against local and even foreign detractors when things are running well. Health is vital to happiness. Happy people are more likely to tolerate an imperfect leader. Currently, dictators face much pressure because they prioritize going to other countries for their health services while allowing their national systems to run into chaos. The fear of an inadequate health system makes the citizens call out their leaders.
Education
For a dictator to be loved, he has to realize the importance of educating his citizens. History rides on the stories told to generations. African history is a vital part of its society. Thus, African dictators have the opportunity to be on the good side of history when they focus on education. Not only can these dictators win the love of the citizens, but they also get the respect and admiration of future generations. Education is one of the most important legacies any leader can make. Not only would a functional educational sector bring positive changes to the people. It also ensures they defend their leader because of the importance of knowledge. A look at the current standings of the educational sector in current African dictatorial regimes shows a below-par system. When citizens feel their leaders keep them uninformed, they resort to protesting against the leader.
The Press
Issues such as press freedom can also play to the advantage of any dictator hoping to be loved. When all vital sectors are functional, the press heralds the goodness of their political head, ensuring citizens see his good works. With citizens’ approval, oppositions are less likely to form, coups are less likely to occur, and a dictator is more likely to be loved and keep his head.
Today in countries like China, citizens are in love with their rulers, even with bad Western publicity surrounding them. This acceptance is because the citizens see their leaders as perfect for the growth of their countries. While imperfections exist with their styles, the benefits gotten by their subjects are enough to warrant love and acceptance. Compared to African dictators, there is less likelihood of reciprocal love because African dictators do not understand the importance of getting citizens’ approval. The stability of dictatorial regimes only occurs when organized opposition does not arise. It is this near perfection that African dictators should target. The need to gain love is vital for acceptance. Historical precedents show more leadership years for leaders loved by their citizens.
Conclusion
The current dictatorial systems in Africa are characterized by corruption, stealing of public funds, poor sectorial efficiencies, and a Gestapo-like judicial system. These features have not endeared leaders to their subjects. A recurring theme of coups happens in these settings. Usually, these dictators face civil disobedience, protests, arrest and trial in the Hague, or torturous deaths. Africa is not the only continent with dictators. However, Africa seems to be the only continent where its dictators have a gross disrespect for the people. These have led to a lack of peaceful continuity in their leadership. Citizens of a country can confer love and support even to a dictator if they perceive he is working for their benefit. They may even oppose Western democratic influence in their countries because they feel drawn to their ruler. More importantly, these loved dictators have a chance to be on the good side of history. Reciprocated support from the citizens will benefit the dictators who strive to be better. At the end of their regime, it doesn’t matter how much they take for personal use. The much they put back into the country can be enough to make subjects support their dictators. History will certainly be kind to a loved ruler.
Citizens are not happy with underdevelopment and hardship. The cumulation of these problems is rebellion and hate for the dictator. With time, the hatred becomes much, causing an attempted disruption to remove the leader. Thus, even the dictator lives in fear of coups and protests. As opposed to some other dictatorial leaders in the developed world who have the respect and admiration of their subjects, African dictators lack a nationalist agenda. Moreso, these loved dictators can shift conversations from the length of their rulership to the impact they have on their countries. The consensus can no longer be about political systems but the efficiency of the person in power. In the end, a loved dictator may have his name written among the greats.
FEEDBACK:
