Do dictators deliver more
effective government than
constitutional democracies?
Mark Harrison, 6 November 2012
In a democracy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
There is (relatively) open government.
The government discusses a decision.
One person complains.
The next one goes on strike.
Then everyone wants a say.
Then there’s a U-turn.
The risk is nothing gets done.
That’s a cost of democracy.
6 November 2012
2
Under a dictator
•
•
•
•
The government discusses a decision.
Nobody knows because the decision is a secret.
The decision is carried out.
Russia: Stalin’s five year plans built new cities,
new industries, and the Red Army.
• China: Mao Zedong famously ordered a “Great
Leap Forward.”
• The risk is that it’s a disaster.
• But at least it got decided.
6 November 2012
3
Secrets are valuable
Dilbert 2.0: 20 Years of Dilbert, by Scott Adams
If it’s secret, how can you tell?
• You have to wait for regime change.
• Then you can do the history.
• In 1991 communist rule collapsed in the Russian
Empire (“Soviet Union”).
• Leaving hundreds of millions of documents.
• Mostly stamped:
6 November 2012
5
Secrets were valuable – and costly
• You make a secret decision and you write it
down.
• The paper you write it on is secret.
• You put it on a list and count it.
• You send it to Comrade X to carry out.
• How can you be sure it’s still secret?
• Comrade X gives you a receipt.
• The receipt is also secret.
• You put that on the list and count it too.
6 November 2012
6
Files of KGB counter-intelligence,
Lithuania 1940-1991
Total
3,433
100.0%
Of which: Counter-insurgency
1,597
46.5%
Accounting for secrets
794
23.1%
Police work
392
11.4%
Matters relating to foreigners
199
5.8%
Economic matters
114
3.3%
Anonymous circulars
101
2.9%
Complaints and petitions
99
2.9%
Matters relating to young people
78
2.3%
Cautions
47
1.4%
Matters relating to Jews
19
0.6%
370
10.8%
Not classified
6 November 2012
7
Conclusion
• Dictators operate in secret.
• Secret government carries hidden costs.
• We don’t see the waste and inefficiency because
these are secret.
• No system is perfect.
• At least with democracy, what you see is what
you get.
6 November 2012
8
Psst! Any questions?
By Esly Carrero
6 November 2012
9