“Empires of Gold”: Do Good Dictators Exist?
As much as reading is a passion of mine, books in English are expensive in Peru and I can’t rely on the postal system that has already lost two of my packages in the past. So when my aunt said that she could bring me something on her trip to South America last year, I chose carefully.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Dr. Vincent Tufano’s book, Empires of Gold!
Not only does the historical fiction cover centuries of Peruvian history, but the characters are also richly developed. Don Miguel Sandoval, the principal character, was the most flavorful of them all. I admired how he protected and maintained peace in his valley, despite using methods that may be considered controversial these days:
- Monitoring the land and dealing out punishment to those who did bad (e.g., abusive landowners who mistreated their Indian peons).
- Preventing people from doing bad (e.g., a Catholic priest sexually abusing minors) by threatening with assassination.
- Using compassion or bribery to create loyalty and do good (e.g., political favors to make sure foreign corporations wouldn’t be allowed to take advantage of his land as a source of gold).
In my land of democracy, I often find it hard to imagine how a dictator with all-encompassing authority can be good without being corrupted by power. Nevertheless, Don Miguel’s character reminds me of the benevolent dictator Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore and the longest serving in history. They say it’s because of him that Singapore is now known for its racial harmony, cleanliness, low homelessness rate, and low unemployment rate.
“It’s a dictatorship with free speech, no fear, and no corruption.” — Donella Meadows Archive.
What went on in the background? School corporal punishment and judicial caning for a wide variety of crimes, including drug addiction and illegal immigration; capital punishment for serious crimes, especially drug-related offences; heavy fines for littering, jaywalking, and spitting; mandatory 25% savings leading to economic growth; and even population control by providing benefits to mothers who only have two children and who sterilize after two while providing incentives for highly educated mothers to have more than two children.
Are there good dictators? Can dictatorial leadership ever be justified as “good”?
Tags: empires of gold, good dictators, lee kuan yew, peruvian history, singapore society, vincent tufano
Pat Amsden
Hi Sam
I suspect if you’re a leader being a dictator always seems like a good idea at some time or another. But I suspect most of us wouldn’t want to live under a dictatorship no matter how good or benevolent.
At best I think it’s the lessor of two evils with the hope being that it would eventually evolve into democracy. But very few leaders are willing or able to give up the reins of power that easily, once taken up.
Sounds like a wonderful book though.
Pat
Samantha Bangayan
I hadn’t thought about that, Pat! I imagine it can be so much more efficient to have dictatorial powers, but there can be an uneasiness about not being able to choose how our lives are lived.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, friend! =)
sangeng wong
Singapore’s opposition parties has gained more seats in the last election and one of the issues was the huge amount of remuneration paid to the Ministers etc and that issue has, perhaps due to the gaining of seats by the opposition, precipitated the recent reduction of remuneration of the Ministers etc.. Lesson: who could have a say as to the policy which appears to be “irrational and unfair”? It is the citizen. After all has been said, the bottom line is: who gets what, when and how? Somehow, in all politics, it is the balance of state authority with the people’s liberty and rights and welfare. There must be checks and balance and as such the U. K. ‘s Westminster’s model of parliament has been adopted in many countries and a tripartite organs of power/legislation provide a system that the rule of law is and to be upheld and the ultimate power still lies with the citizen, through elecion,but only they are to be well informed citizen. Again, transparency in all decision making of all organs is imperative…but sad to say, this (transparency or otherwise) is still highly inadequate in many aspects. I choose people power.
Samantha Bangayan
You bring up such an important point about how informed citizens are, Sangeng! That really interested me because there were a lot of campaigns about informed voting here in Peru during the last elections because there was the fear that many of the less educated citizens would go for the candidate who promised more even if he/she wasn’t necessarily going to follow through with the promises.
It sounds like the ideal is still democracy and “people power” as long as there’s transparency and fairness.
Thanks for your thoughts, Sangeng! As I mentioned, I was so curious to hear what you thought as someone living in Southeast Asia! =)
Jacque Belhida
Hello Samantha,
Nice blog as always. Perhaps if you have a chance to be a leader you might bring peace to the world. -:)
Samantha Bangayan
Aww, thanks for the kind words, Jacque. =) Truthfully, I think I’d be scared of all the responsibilities there are in being a leader!
Jacque Belhida
Your welcome Sam. Yeah your right. As what spiderman says ” With great power comes great responsibility!” but there is no harm in trying. 🙂
Arline
I think I need to add in my collection that books “Empires of Gold” to gain an additional thoughts with the leaders in our society…
Samantha Bangayan
Great to meet you, Arline! You’ll love the book! =) And thanks for your comment!
Carolyn | The Wonder of Tech
Hi Samantha, I thought you got an ereader as a gift recently. Are you able to download ebooks to it? That might solve your dilemma about finding books to read in English.
Anyway, I love your blog because you pose very interesting questions. This topic fascinates me. I have spoken with people from Easter Europe who miss the old days when the government dictators took care of their needs. They rue democracy and the burdens of a failing economy.
We are accustomed to valuing freedom and democracy above all else, and I do believe in those ideals. But there are those who have lived under the rule of dictators and prefer that to living in a democracy.
Fascinating topic.
Samantha Bangayan
I did, Carolyn! I wrote this post about last year when I had very little access to English books. =) Thankfully, I’m catching up on my reading now with my Kindle.
That’s so interesting to hear about the opinions of those in Eastern Europe, such a different part of the world for me. I can only imagine how it can almost be comforting to have your needs taken care of, even if we don’t really get a say in how everything pans out. Something to consider! =)
Adrienne
Hi Samantha,
I also love your blog and what you share with us because you do pose questions for us that I don’t think we actually think about the majority of the time. You living in another country definitely contributes to this.
I have to admit I never really think much about this. Yes, I live in my own little world the majority of the time and have never lived in another country. I guess if you’ve always lived under dictatorship and it’s been more on the positive note then most people would probably want to remain there.
I know that I am definitely more accustomed to valuing my freedom. Maybe it can be a good thing but I prefer to continue with the way things are. I just hope they stay that way.
~Adrienne
Samantha Bangayan
Aww, thanks for your kind words, Adrienne! I know what you mean because I don’t think I’d even be considering these types of questions if I didn’t live in Peru.
You’re so right that maybe it’s about what we’re used to. We might have a hard time being faced with a sudden dictatorship after being accustomed to living under a democracy, although there are some that say that even our so-called democracy can be corrupt. Interesting to ponder!
Julie
This book seems to be a really nice read, I think I’m going to purchase it as soon as possible, I really like these kind of semi-historical literature! Thanks for the inspiration!
Samantha Bangayan
You’re so welcome, Julie! I hope you enjoy it! =)
Abe Palmer
I think there is good and bad with all leaderships. It doesn’t matter if it is a Dictatorship, Democracy or Monarcy, there is power and opression in every fasset of life. Rules and regulations to follow with rewards or punishments based on your discions to follow or disobey.
Great post Samantha
Samantha Bangayan
I hadn’t thought about that, Abe! I’ve definitely seen how power of any kind corrupts here in Peru where there’s so much talk about power. I like you conclude with how it’s always up to us to make our own decisions. =) Love that!
Penelope J.
Sam,
Your review of “Empires of Gold” has motivated me to buy this book. As a result of reading it, you ask a very interesting and controversial question.
Are there good dictators? I’m sure that some start off being idealistic and have the best of intentions, but these are often waylaid before they can be implemented. To stay in power, the dictator has to quash all opposition, which leads to drastic measures and eventually, to despotism and/or tyranny. Also, many dictators become power and money engorged and stash away billions of dollars in foreign banks.
On the other hand, many so-called democracies are thinly disguised dictatorships. The people are led to believe that their votes count but any dissension or opposition is silenced or censored. Unfortunately, this is often the case in Third-World countries where people are poor and uneducated.
That said, Kuan Yew is an interesting example of a “good” dictator, though for people living in a democracy, some of the more stringent laws (that you mention) infringe on personal liberty and choice.
Like most of us in the western world, I’d rather live with a flawed democracy than a successful dictatorship.
Samantha Bangayan
I love your descriptions here, Pennie. You explain it so well. There’s much that needs to be done in order to maintain power as a dictator that the good may not even have the chance to be realized! And then there’s the concern about how a dictator may change once there’s absolute or near absolute power.
I’m only recently learning about how democracies can be can disguise dictatorships here in Peru. What’s surprising is how many people can so vehemently believe in the democracy and not see what’s going on in the background. =( That’s why it was so cool to see workshops about informed voting during the last elections here in Peru. They did comedic dramas and asked the audience what they thought about the fake candidates. =)
Thanks so much for getting me to think more, Pennie! =) Hugs!
I really hope you enjoy the book, Pennie! =)
Cat Alexandra @ Internet Marketing Success
Hi Sam,
This is indeed an interesting subject to ponder.
I’m getting a gut check that there are no fast or hard definitive conclusions to draw on this one.
What comes to mind is that in this life there are so many ways we could “be.” There are different things that work in different places which would simply not work in other places. What’s that saying, “It wouldn’t fly in Peoria!”?? 😛
I am going to be so biased in assuming since I have been indoctrinated into the world a specific way…and since the lens of my life has only been formed on what I have participated in or experienced in some kind of vicarious way.
I’m just glad I am not the politico who was faced with the difficult decision-making process you described! lol It does indeed sound like a fascinating book!
Cat 😉
Samantha Bangayan
True that, Cat! We all have our own opinions about politics. =) Although it’s interesting to review the comments and see that the majority are for democracy so far — but that also speaks of my readers. =)
I so love your thoughts on this! It really expresses your respect for the way different parts of the world work. How can we place judgment if we don’t fully understand, right? It’s so easy to fall into the reasoning that “developed” countries must know better, but that in itself is a bias.
Loved your reflections, friend! =)
Cat Alexandra @ Internet Marketing Success
Hola Amiga,
So glad you liked my point of view on this.
I’m what some people call an “empath” and I have this feeling to think macrocosmically – universally – when orienting my own feelings on a matter.
I don’t mean to sound arrogant or like I know it all, but I have a feeling that if more and more people were willing to frame their behaviours from a universal perspective (as much as possible to do as biased humans, that is), we could create such a positive world over time. – One where there is no room for human suffering.
I’ll keep daydreaming about it and blasting it out there cause I believe that one day it could be true. That’s the kind of world I want to live in and certainly the kind of world I want to leave for those to come.
Cat
Martha Eisen
I believe that the word Dictator says it all, somebody who dictates what others should do can’t be good. Perhaps the main character of Empires of Gold was successful with his controversial methods but that is a fictional book. In the real world people choose freedom of speech and fight for human rights and active participation of all involved. Even the most benevolent dictator can’t have too much power without stepping on peoples’ rights. I’d rather live with a bad democracy than a dictatorship for sure. Great post!
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks so much for your thoughts on this, Martha! I’d be curious to see if people feel the same way all over the world. Although Empires of Gold was fiction, it was based on history, and I also wonder if Dr. Tufano based these successful dictatorship practices on reality. Plenty to think about and I really appreciate you adding your opinion, friend! =)
Giulietta Nardone
Hi Samantha,
Good question!
I agree with many of your other commenters, dictatorship is never a good option. The reason we have so many governmental problems is because folks don’t understand that a good government requires active participation, engagement, and dissent. In the US, we raise our children to be good consumers not good citizens. It’s a big difference. Folks spend their days wandering the malls buying stuff that drives the consumer-base economy,yet leaves them powerless. They’ve got the time. It needs to be re-allotted.
I see this on the local level in my town. If you trust leaders to keep their word, they almost never do. Or worse, they create a set of false options. If folks do not stay invested in their own governments they corrupt themselves. Corruption happens when citizens do not stay involved. It happens because we permit it. The horrors that happen, happen because we do not speak up to stop it or do not speak up to keep it from being a choice.
Check out my cave story this week! Thanks, G.
Samantha Bangayan
Wow! Thanks so much for your input on this, Julie! I have to admit that I’m guilty of not actively participating, but I now see why it’s so important to stay involved. Now if only we all had this sense of accountability.
I’m really interested in the distinction you made between good consumers and good citizens. It has me wondering how unaware many of us are, including myself! Thanks for your push in the right direction. =)
The Pepperrific Life
I’m a little rusty with my history, but as far as I know, there can never be a good dictator. I guess I’m speaking from a Filipino’s perspective, having been witness to the Marcos dictatorship some years back. Absolute power consumes absolutely.
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks so much for your thoughts, Pepper! It’s so valuable to get an opinion from someone who has lived through a dictatorship. “Absolute power consumes absolutely.” — Powerful!
Paula
I’m not sure if there could be real life good dictators, but I did read about a fictional one that I liked. Commander Ambrose, in Poison Study by Maria V. Synder, is a very interesting character. He is really strict, but fair, and actually practices what he preaches. If you like fantasy, you might really enjoy these books. 🙂
Samantha Bangayan
Ooh! Excited to read that book, Paula! Thanks for the recommendation! =) I love fantasy — just finished The Clockwork Prince recently. =)
Noch Noch | be me. be natural.
well, if the dictator is kind hearted i don’t mind that. but i suppose by definition, they are not, and essentially good leaders listen to others
dpends on day and age though, a few dictators I feel were crucial to progress in the world from ages ago, otherwsie we would have been too messy…
NOch Noch
Samantha Bangayan
I wonder why that is the case — that dictators “by definition” aren’t kind-hearted. =P Maybe, then, dictators worked in the past, but not any more in this “age of democracy”? Thanks for reflecting with me, friend! =)
Noch Noch
that’s very true actually – why are we limited by definitions. that was a good, thought provoking question. made me realize that the judgmental self is still in me!
Noch Noch
Samantha Bangayan
I know what you mean! I don’t know how to explain it well, but if we really think about it, our language can define how we see the world. As a simple example, I feel I can be expressive in Spanish where there seem to be many more emotion words than in English. Maybe it’s just my vocabulary. =P Hey, that would make a good post. Haha! =)
Vinny T
It was really great meeting you and Roy in my beloved Peru, Samantha. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, and thanks for all the kind words about my novel, Empires of Gold.The book is basically about living in a dangerous world and about always being at risk, even when things seem peaceful and secure. In developing this theme, my novel raises a number of moral issues such as the one tat you focused on in your blog entry. I´m glad that your remarks led some of your readers to purchase my book, and I´m certain that my story will provide meaningful entertainment for those who take the time to read it. Thanks again, Samantha.
Samantha Bangayan
Thank *you* for having me over, Vinny! It was so great to finally meet you in person and thanks for sending so much traffic over to this post! I thoroughly enjoyed your novel and I’m excited to hear what others think as well.
Talk soon!
Sherry Zander
Compelling post, my friend. I’ve never, ever thought that a dictatorship would be good for a nation, but you raised a good point in regards to the late Prime Minister Yew. I believe he was the exception, rather than the rule.
Samantha Bangayan
Thankfully, Lee Kuan Yew is still alive and well! =) In fact, he continues to participates in politics in Singapore as far as I’ve heard. I think you made a good point when you mention that he was the exception. There aren’t a lot of benevolent dictators that come to mind in the first place. =P
Hajra
I live in a country that does not work on democracy and it functions beautifully. Crimes are well under control, there is justice and people have been given equal rights to everything – even expats.
On the other hand, I come from a country that relies on democracy and os struggling with corrupt politicians for far too long. So it depends on the leaders, how willing they are to run what they are working for and how honest they are. That for me is the underlying factor.
Samantha Bangayan
It’s great to hear your opinion about this, Hajra! =) It’s such a different perspective than what others are used to in developed, democratic countries. And in the end, you’re so right that it may not depend on the political situation at all, but on the leader! Love that!
Sherry Z.
Oops, I misunderstood that one. Glad he’s still alive and well and still wielding his benevolence in the politics of Singapore.
Making the Best of a Bad Situation - What Little Things
[…] of Gold, an in-depth historical fiction based in Peru. I wrote about his book in a past post, “Empires of Gold”: Do Good Dictators Exist? Below, Dr. Tufano writes about the perils of walking around in […]