The dictators' survival guide

countering civic action

Tags: Worldwide , Knowledge Platform
Additional tags: Foreign policy dictators knowledge survival guide

Amidst growing protests in even the most repressive of regimes, the question arises what the do's and don'ts are for dictators trying to stay in charge. In Foreign Policy's dictator's survival guide Mica Zenko reflects on Ghadafi's downfall and offers strategic advice for all those remaining absolute rulers desperately clinging to their eroding power bases. 

Key recommendations: Control and, where neceessary,obstruct the (international) press, blame domestic problems on other countries and leave sufficient ambiguity in the announcements of your plans. Develop nuclear weapons, strike a partnership with the US,  but whatever happens, do not bomb your own population. These recommendations may appear to be a little trivial and seemingly insignificant for researchers and supporters of civic action. Yet they do offer some insights into the power strategies of dictatorial regimes and some of Ghadafi's mistakes: Useful food for thought for reflections on Syria, Iran, Birma and other places in need of a good revolution.