The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics

What are the five basic rules that leaders can use to succeed in any system? Describe how each of these rules works in both small- and large-coalition systems, citing examples from the text.

What are the main ways in which leaders come to power and stay in power? Do autocratic and democratic leaders follow the same mechanisms? Provide empirical claims from the book to support your position.

Why do the authors think that debt forgiveness, especially for highly indebted poor countries, is a misguided policy? Do you find their argument convincing? Why or why not?

How is it that “power leads to corruption and corruption leads to power” in both small- and large-coalition systems (128)? Do you think we will ever be able to eliminate corruption in politics? How would the authors respond to your argument?

Bueno de Mesquita and Smith note that “when it comes to foreign policy, a democrat is prone to behave more like a devil than an angel” (161). What are some of the empirical claims for this position presented by the authors? Do you find this argument convincing?

How do financial crises impact leaders’ political survival? Are these impacts the same for autocratic and democratic leaders? Why or why not?

Why do the authors blame “we, the people” in large coalition-systems for the continued misery and poverty of everyday people in small-coalition systems (246)? Do you find their argument convincing? Why or why not?

While Bueno de Mesquita and Smith provide examples from states, businesses, families, and other organizations to show how the rules to rule by govern all leaders, they choose to name their book The Dictator’s Handbook. Why is this the title of the text? Provide evidence from the text to support your argument.