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About this quote

What does it mean?
Free elections introduce uncertainty into political power because the outcome cannot be predicted or controlled in advance.
In plain terms
Democracy means you might lose power.
What can you take from it?
Leaders prefer control over unpredictability.

Where it applies

  • political strategy
  • election analysis
  • authoritarian critique

Putting it to work

  • analyze election risks
  • understand regime priorities

Questions to consider

  • Why do leaders fear uncertainty?
  • Is predictability more important than freedom?

Another view

The quote assumes leaders dislike losing more than they value democratic legitimacy.

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