THE SPIRIT OF DESPOTISM 161and often become dangerously overdependent. It is bad enough when
an ordinary citizen becomes intoxicated by power but when that intoxi-
cation strikes a national leader — someone reading his or her lines on a
world stage — the consequences can be devastating. Paranoid fears that
others will seek to overthrow them makes leaders resort to what psy-
chologists call ‘ protective reaction ’ — that is, they take the aggressive
initiative, attacking before they can be attacked. If their protective reac-
tion gains a base in reality (if, for example, dissidents from their own
regime form an alliance with external forces), it is as if oil has been
thrown on their paranoid fi re. Even when their paranoia alone does not
argue for war, despots are motivated into combat by the sense of purpose
and solidarity it gives the people, and the distraction it offers from the
despot ’ s own misdeeds.
Power and reason cannot coexist peacefully, and reason is always
the loser. Excessive power blurs the senses, triggers delusional paranoia,
and corrupts reality - testing. And paranoiacs do not take their delusions
lightly. Many a reign has been steeped in the blood of enemies more
perceived than real; many a ruler, from Aztec rulers to modern despots,
has been more executioner than diplomat. And in every case, those who
are carried away by power eventually self - destruct — but not before sac-
rifi cing countless victims on the altar of their ambitions.
The history of many despotic regimes is a string of cautionary tales,
reminding us that every culture needs to build and maintain strong
checks and balances against the abuse of power. Without these safe-
guards, any regime, no matter how benign, can give way to despotic
rule. Thus power retained should always be a check to power
conferred.
Why despotism must be fought
What makes despots so dangerous for the world community is not so
much their tendency toward violence as the ease with which that ten-
dency can be indulged. Starting a war — engaging in any form of vio-
lence, for that matter — is so much easier for despots than for democratic
leaders. Despots do not need to ask permission from various executive
and legislative bodies. Despots do not have to convince the populace.
The most they have to do — if that — is to get an offi cial - sounding agency
to rubber - stamp their war effort. They have the power to do pretty
much as they wish.
It goes without saying that wars come at an incredible price in
human suffering for the citizens involved. But the visible costs of