Dr. Marcel Dirsus

And then I think the other element of that is that a lot about these systems is about status and it's about perceived power and perceived potence almost. So not only do you want to be rich, you want to be the richest because you want to send a signal to the others that, you know, actually I'm the man. I am that guy and you are not.

And then I think the other element of that is that a lot about these systems is about status and it's about perceived power and perceived potence almost. So not only do you want to be rich, you want to be the richest because you want to send a signal to the others that, you know, actually I'm the man. I am that guy and you are not.

And then I think the other element of that is that a lot about these systems is about status and it's about perceived power and perceived potence almost. So not only do you want to be rich, you want to be the richest because you want to send a signal to the others that, you know, actually I'm the man. I am that guy and you are not.

One of the big differences between democracies and dictatorships is the amount of people that you need to keep on your side in order to take power and maintain it. So if you imagine a democracy where you actually need to win free and fair elections, you need to convince a relatively large share of the population to support you.

One of the big differences between democracies and dictatorships is the amount of people that you need to keep on your side in order to take power and maintain it. So if you imagine a democracy where you actually need to win free and fair elections, you need to convince a relatively large share of the population to support you.

One of the big differences between democracies and dictatorships is the amount of people that you need to keep on your side in order to take power and maintain it. So if you imagine a democracy where you actually need to win free and fair elections, you need to convince a relatively large share of the population to support you.

And there's going to be another election, and if you lose them, you're going to lose power. But the less democratic your system becomes, the fewer and fewer people you need to maintain on your side. So if you look at something like Kim Jong-un's North Korea, he might only need 200 families in order to maintain power.

And there's going to be another election, and if you lose them, you're going to lose power. But the less democratic your system becomes, the fewer and fewer people you need to maintain on your side. So if you look at something like Kim Jong-un's North Korea, he might only need 200 families in order to maintain power.

And there's going to be another election, and if you lose them, you're going to lose power. But the less democratic your system becomes, the fewer and fewer people you need to maintain on your side. So if you look at something like Kim Jong-un's North Korea, he might only need 200 families in order to maintain power.

And in a way, again, this sounds great because you can ignore just about everybody else. And in many cases, they have. But the problem is the flip side of that, because democratic leaders can afford to lose a lot of people, but dictators cannot. So if Kim Jong-un loses 50 families, you might be done.

And in a way, again, this sounds great because you can ignore just about everybody else. And in many cases, they have. But the problem is the flip side of that, because democratic leaders can afford to lose a lot of people, but dictators cannot. So if Kim Jong-un loses 50 families, you might be done.

And in a way, again, this sounds great because you can ignore just about everybody else. And in many cases, they have. But the problem is the flip side of that, because democratic leaders can afford to lose a lot of people, but dictators cannot. So if Kim Jong-un loses 50 families, you might be done.

So you are in this constant situation where the people closest to you are your biggest threat and losing even a few of them can become a massive issue. So that's why it's so important that you take money and you steal it from the masses, essentially, even if it might be indirect, and you give it to the people that keep you in power. So your oligarchs, your generals, your intelligence officers.

So you are in this constant situation where the people closest to you are your biggest threat and losing even a few of them can become a massive issue. So that's why it's so important that you take money and you steal it from the masses, essentially, even if it might be indirect, and you give it to the people that keep you in power. So your oligarchs, your generals, your intelligence officers.

So you are in this constant situation where the people closest to you are your biggest threat and losing even a few of them can become a massive issue. So that's why it's so important that you take money and you steal it from the masses, essentially, even if it might be indirect, and you give it to the people that keep you in power. So your oligarchs, your generals, your intelligence officers.

And that's part of the reason why it can never stop. It has to keep moving.

And that's part of the reason why it can never stop. It has to keep moving.

And that's part of the reason why it can never stop. It has to keep moving.

Also, no guarantees, I suppose. Yeah, I got really obsessed with the topic of succession because I think it's really one of the defining weaknesses of dictatorships or non-democratic systems of government in general, right? And we don't talk about it enough. And one of the things that I looked at was the European Middle Ages, around the year 1000.

Also, no guarantees, I suppose. Yeah, I got really obsessed with the topic of succession because I think it's really one of the defining weaknesses of dictatorships or non-democratic systems of government in general, right? And we don't talk about it enough. And one of the things that I looked at was the European Middle Ages, around the year 1000.