That worst evil of long dictatorships: the loss of all political experience.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Long dictatorships lose the accumulated political experience that comes from varied leadership.
- In plain terms
- Extended dictatorships erode political expertise.
- What can you take from it?
- Political experience degrades under prolonged authoritarian rule.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can dictatorships retain expertise?
- What mechanisms preserve political knowledge?
Another view
Not all long regimes necessarily lose experience; some retain it.
More from James Cameron
The fabulous Eva, Government Glad-Hand Girl No. 1 of the extravagant political novelette that is Argentina.
Permalink to quote #1 When Nikita Khrushchev wrapped himself in the bloody mantle of the Czars he broke Hungary, he broke the little Communist parties over the western world, and he…
Permalink to quote #3 I like the evening in India, the one magic moment when the sun balances on the rim of the world, and the hush descends, and ten thousand civil servants drift h…
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
During the last 100 years, the House of Lords has never contributed one iota to popular liberties or popular freedom, or done anything to advance the common we…
Joseph ChamberlainJoseph Chamberlain quote #1 With humble duty, I wish to submit to you the following advice, acting in my capacity as your representative in Fiji. Owing to the uncertainty of the political…
Ratu Sir Penaia GanilauRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau quote #1 You don't get everything you want. A dictatorship would be a lot easier.
George W. BushGeorge W. Bush quote #2