Do Military Dictatorships Dream of Electoral Sheep?
All states end up the same: Military dictatorship. Strangely the first reaction to this terminal disease is a general recovery in all aspects of the state: planning, decision-making, financial balance, et cetera. This follows by replacing planning based on external circumstances (dynastic, elections, et cetera) with planning by a central staff. Decision making is taken from a heterogeneous group of opposite poles (country & city, agricultural & industry, labour & capital, et cetera) and given to a central staff. Financial management is taken from those who spend public money for private enrichment (clergy, king’s favourite, parliament, et cetera) and given to a central staff. You see, dear reader, where this is going to end: all power is concentrated in a central staff. The central staff usually starts as a council, but almost always (if it survives long enough) evolves to the rule of single man. This imperator no matter how benign he might start out to be will always end up a cruel ty
