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Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a ruler arbitrarily rules over a people or a state. This arbitrariness distinguishes it from a monarchy or a dictatorship. A despot rules without being restricted by rules. The term despotism is often applied to areas outside of state theory, such as heads of families, entrepreneurs, association chairpersons and others.
In contrast to despotism, in a monarchy the monarch is the sole ruler, but is bound by rules, such as a constitution, or the interests of other nobles, such as a council of the realm or electors. In a dictatorship, the dictator is also restricted by rules. Unlike in a monarchy, the dictator has not obtained his legitimacy to rule through inheritance of the throne or a royal election. Absolute monarchs are often despots, but they do not have to be. An absolute king or emperor may also be restricted by following historical or self-imposed rules. Conversely, a republic may also have a despot as its ruler.
Democratic despotism
In democratic despotism, one group of the population arbitrarily rules over another group without the ruled group being aware of it. Democratic despotism was first described by Alexis de Tocqueville. He described democracy in the United States in the 19th century. He saw an increasing individualisation of people and, as a result, a withdrawal from public life, a focus on one's own home and family, and a retreat from the public sphere. This was accompanied by a lack of information among the people, especially about minority opinions, the exclusion of population groups, and a division of society. According to Charles Taylor, this happens through ever-increasing centralism, the exclusion of minority positions and, as a result, a division of the population, political fragmentation of parties, politics for certain influential groups and lobbyists, and an inability to compromise.
Democratic despotism carries the risk of a dictatorship of the majority. This can affect certain groups in society, such as members of certain ethnic groups, for example the indigenous population of a country, members of certain religions, people with low incomes and assets, for example slum dwellers, or even representatives of certain political positions.
Despots in history
One example of a despot in history is Genghis Khan (c. 1162 to 1227). In conquered territories, he had those who had resisted executed. He also had their wives and children executed. It is estimated today that around a third of the population in the conquered territories were killed. He also destroyed old tribal structures in the Mongol Empire and promoted loyal subordinates by introducing feudal structures and rewarding loyal subordinates.
In Russia, Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530 to 1584), also known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned the first Tsar of Russia in 1547. Paranoid and suffering from delusions of persecution, he ordered several mass executions and massacres. He also ordered public tortures on multiple occasions. However, he also modernised the military, improved the administration and expanded the Russian Empire.
Adolf Hitler (1889 to 1945) ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. Under his rule, a racial ideology was propagated in which Jews in particular, but also Roma and Sinti and other people of non-Germanic origin, were persecuted. He started the Second World War with the invasion of Poland, with the aim of expanding German territory, particularly to the east. Around 60 million people died in the Second World War. In addition, there were mass murders of around 14 million Jews, Roma and Sinti, disabled people, prisoners of war, homosexuals, political prisoners and others.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (1878 to 1953) ruled the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953. Under his leadership, the industrialisation of the Soviet Union was driven forward. His reign also saw the defence against the attack by the German Reich in the Second World War. He carried out political purges and mass deportations. Many people were forced into labour or sent to prison and labour camps. It is estimated that around 15 to 20 million people lost their lives under his rule.
Mao Zedong (1893 to 1976) ruled China from 1949 to 1976. With the Great Leap Forward, he industrialised China's agrarian economy. With his Cultural Revolution, he destroyed a large part of China's cultural heritage. He promoted equal rights for women in China, made the population literate and significantly raised the standard of living through industrialisation. However, he also led an autocratic and totalitarian regime with political persecution, mass executions and labour camps. Under his rule, between 20 million and 50 million people lost their lives. Most died of starvation during his industrialisation campaign, the Great Leap Forward.
Pol Pot (1925 to 1998), originally known as Saloth Sar, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. He was the political and military leader of the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge captured the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh during the Cambodian Civil War (1967 to 1975), they began deporting the city's population. In their attempt to introduce communism in Cambodia, they carried out mass executions, torture, forced labour and starvation. During Pol Pot's reign, approximately one to two million of the country's eight million inhabitants lost their lives. Given the large number of deaths in relation to the total population, the actions of the Khmer Rouge are often classified as genocide.
