Enlightened despotism

Enlightened despotism (also called benevolent despotism) referred to a monarch's espousal of "Enlightenment ideas and principles" to enhance the central government's power, thereby expanding their own.[1] The concept is associated with the Enlightenment period in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

An enlightened despot is a non-democratic or authoritarian leader who exercises their political power for the benefit of the people, rather than exclusively for themselves or an elite cadre of the people.

Enlightened despots distinguished themselves from ordinary despots via their style and manner of government, claiming 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 profess a commitment to peaceful relations or even allow some democratic decision-making, such as public referendums, but would not propose reforms that undermined their sovereignty or disrupted the 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, enlightened despots' beliefs about royal power were similar to those of regular despots. Enlightened despots believed that they were destined from birth to rule. To their credit, enlightened rulers may have played a part in the abolition of serfdom in Europe.[3]

A classic enlightened despot, Emperor Joseph II of Austria once said: "Everything for the people, nothing by the people".[4]

Famous enlightened despots

Characteristics

Most dictatorial regimes characterize themselves as "enlightened" and often regard democratic regimes as messy, inefficient, and corrupt. Additionally, many dictators attempt to openly spread misinformation about their Enlightenment in an attempt to create a personality cult.

Like many political classifications, the label of "enlightened despot" suffers from its inherent subjectivity. Self-styled "enlightened leaders" may include 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. In each of these cases, the level of "enlightenment" depends largely on one's point of view. In many cases, long-seated dictators are more likely to be regarded as enlightened because they are often forced to acknowledge public interest in order to remain in power and, more importantly, to be regarded as legitimate. Dictators in power for a brief period of time (or simply members of a rotating dictatorial elite such as some juntas) may have less charismatic authority. They prove to be forgettable and therefore 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

Opposing theories:
Other:

Notes

  1. ↑ Perry, Chase & Jacob 2015, p. 442.
  2. ↑ Mill 1989, p. 13.
  3. ↑ "Disappearance of Serfdom. France. England. Italy. Germany. Spain.". www.1902encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  4. ↑ 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

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