What happened when these 6 dictators took over? - Stephanie Honchell Smith

Prevodilac: Jovana Babic Lektor: Milenka Okuka

According to legend, the ancient Roman statesman Cincinnatus

Prema legendi, drevni rimski državnik Cincinat

was plowing his fields when news arrived that the Aequi,

je orao svoja polja kada su stigle vesti da su Ekvi,

Rome’s powerful enemy to the east, had invaded.

moćni rimski neprijatelji sa istoka, napali.

Rome was in need of swift, decisive action,

Rim je morao da reaguje brzo i odlučno,

and the senate had chosen him to serve as dictator,

zbog čega ga je senat izabrao za diktatora

with absolute power over the military and government.

koji ima apsolutnu moć nad vojskom i vladom.

Cincinnatus set down his plow, took control and,

Cincinat je položio svoj plug, preuzeo kontrolu

in a matter of weeks, saved Rome.

i nakon nekoliko nedelja spasio Rim.

This story reinforces the myth of the “benevolent dictator”—

Ova priča učvršćuje mit o “dobronamernom diktatoru” -

the idea of a leader who holds absolute power,

zamisao o vođi koji poseduje apsolutnu moć,

yet only uses it for the common good, to address problems efficiently,

ali je koristi samo za opšte dobro, da bi efikasnije rešavao probleme

and create a just regime.

i stvorio pravedan režim.

But can a truly benevolent dictator exist in today’s world?

Ipak, da li dobronameran diktator može zaista da postoji u današnjem svetu?

Nations established modern democracies to safeguard

Države su uspostavile moderan demokratski sistem da bi se zaštitile

against the potentially destructive whims of a single individual.

od potencijalno pogubnih hirova pojedinaca.

When functioning properly, democracies enable a society to be freer,

Kada ispravno funkcioniše, demokratija omogućava slobodnije društvo

and provide stability by protecting against corruption and the abuse of power.

i obezbeđuje stabilnost, štiteći od korupcije i zloupotrebe moći.

This is accomplished by holding regular, free, and fair elections,

To se postiže održavanjem redovnih, slobodnih i pravednih izbora,

imposing term limits,

ograničavanjem mandata,

and establishing strong legislative branches and court systems.

i uspostavljanjem jakih zakonodavnih grana i pravnih sistema.

Maintaining a free press also helps keep politicians accountable for their actions

Postojanje slobode medija takođe pomaže

u držanju političara odgovornim za svoje postupke

and encourages citizens to engage in their governments and communities.

i ohrabruje građane da se angažuju u svojim vladama i zajednicama.

In a dictatorship, absolute or near-absolute power

U diktaturi, apsolutna ili skoro apsolutna moć

is held by a single individual

pripada pojedincu

who is free to impose their vision on society.

koji ima slobodu da oblikuje društvo po svojim vrednostima.

Under certain conditions, the idea of a dictator can sound appealing,

U određenim okolostima, ideja diktatora može zvučati primamljivo,

like when a democracy isn't functioning as it should due to corruption,

na primer, kada demokratija ne funkcioniše kako bi trebalo zbog korupcije,

economic instability, or extreme political polarization.

ekonomske nestabilnosti ili ekstremne političke polarizacije.

At these moments,

U ovim trenucima,

people may be willing to give up some democratic rights and freedoms

ljudi mogu biti spremni da se odreknu nekih demokratskih prava i sloboda

for hopes of a better future.

u nadi za bolju budućnost.

Authoritarian-leaning leaders present themselves

Vođe sklone autokratiji se predstavljaju

as the ones who can fix everything.

kao osobe koje mogu da reše sve probleme.

They distill complex problems into simple talking points

Oni predstavljaju složene probleme kao obične teme za razgovor

and promise quick solutions.

i obećavaju brza rešenja.

Some of the most overt authoritarian leaders have taken this strategy,

Neki od najotvorenije autoritarnih vođa su koristili ovu strategiju,

including military dictators who seized control through coups

uključujući vojne diktatore koji su preuzeli kontrolu državnim udarom

like Augusto Pinochet, Mobuto Sese Seko, and Muammar Gaddafi.

poput Augusta Pinočea, Mobutu Sese Sekoa i Muamer el Gadafija.

Gaddafi, for example, initially asserted himself as a revolutionary hero,

Gadafi se, na primer, prvo proslavio kao heroj revolucije

canceling the country's exploitative foreign oil contracts.

koji je ukinuo eksploataciju države putem stranih naftnih ugovora.

But the longer he was in power, the more riddled with paranoia he became.

Međutim, što je duže bio na vlasti, postajao je paranoičniji.

Like Pinochet and Mobuto, he used his position to target and torture opponents,

Kao Pinoče i Mobuto, koristio je svoj položaj da napada i muči protivnike,

embark on campaigns of mass violence against everyday people,

pokrene kampanje masovnog nasilja protiv običnog naroda

and build an enormous personal fortune.

i enormno napuni sopstvene džepove.

Other modern dictators were initially elected democratically,

Drugi moderni diktatori su na početku demokratski izabrani,

then strategically accumulated power by embracing authoritarian forms of control.

a zatim su strateški akumulirali moć, prihvatajući autoritarne oblike kontrole.

Italy’s Benito Mussolini and Germany’s Adolf Hitler, for example,

U Italiji Benito Musolini i Adolf Hitler u Nemačkoj su, na primer,

gained popularity during waves of mass discontent.

postali popularni tokom talasa opšteg nezadovoljstva.

Both channeled economic woes into racist rhetoric and embraced fascism,

Obojica su frustraciju ekonomijom usmerili u rasistčku retoriku i prihvatili fašizam,

a type of authoritarianism which exalts the importance of one nation, or race,

tip autoritarizma koji naglašava važnost jedne nacije ili rase

above all others.

iznad svih ostalih.

Once in office, such leaders gradually dismantle checks on their power,

Kada dođu na vlast, takvi lideri postepeno uklanjaju ograničenja svoje moći,

including removing judges who might rule against them,

na primer uklanjanjem sudija koji bi mogli presuditi protiv njih,

abolishing term limits,

ukidanjem ograničenja mandata

or refusing to acknowledge unfavorable election results.

ili odbijanjem da priznaju nepovoljne rezultate izbora.

Since they punish dissenting voices,

Pošto kažnjavaju one koji se ne slažu s njima,

dictators are often surrounded with yes-men,

diktatori su uglavnom okruženi ulizicama

who are promoted based on loyalty over expertise,

koje bivaju unapređene na osnovu lojalnosti umesto stručnosti,

ultimately wreaking incalculable economic, social, and environmental costs.

što na kraju donosi nesagledivu ekonomsku, socijalnu i ekološku štetu.

But these costs can also be hidden from view.

Cena ovakvog upravljanja državom može biti skrivena.

Dictators build up cults of personality by minimizing negative coverage

Diktatori grade kult ličnosti ograničavanjem negativnog izveštavanja

and pushing positive propaganda that presents them as strong or heroic.

i širenjem pozitivne propagande koja ih predstavlja kao jake ili junake.

This can make it almost impossible to accurately measure their success.

Ovo čini tačnu procenu njihovog uspeha skoro nemogućom.

Did Mussolini really make the trains run on time?

Da li je Musolini zaista učinio da vozovi stižu na vreme?

It’s hard to know, since he would have punished those who said otherwise.

Teško je znati jer bi on kaznio sve koji su tvrdili suprotno.

While some modern dictators have brought modest growth

Iako su neki moderni diktatori doveli do skromnog rasta

to their nation’s economies and industries,

ekonomije i industrije sopstvenih država,

most have enriched the few and left widespread destruction in their wake.

većina ih je obogatila nekolicinu i ostavila pustoš za sobom.

Even so-called benevolent dictators, whose regimes lacked overt violence,

Čak i takozvani dobronamerni diktatori, čiji režimi nisu bili otvoreno nasilni,

stand accused of censoring journalists

optuženi su za cenzuru novinara

and limiting the rights and freedoms of citizens.

i ograničavanje prava i sloboda građana.

Back to ancient Rome.

Da se vratimo na antički Rim.

Perhaps the most important dimension

Verovatno najbitnija stavka

of Cincinnatus’ legendary benevolent dictatorship

Cincinatove legendarne dobronamerne diktature

is not that he held total power,

nije to što je imao apsolutnu moć,

but that he gave it up after only 16 days.

već to što je se odrekao nakon samo 16 dana.

Once Rome was safe, he stepped down and retired to his fields.

Čim je Rim postao siguran, on se povukao i vratio na svoja polja.

His willingness to relinquish control to the senate was as important

Njegova spremnost da prepusti kontrolu senatu bila je jednako važna

to the common good as his ability to fend off invaders.

za opšte dobro kao njegova sposobnost da odbrani Rim od napada.

In practice, no modern dictator has lived up to this ideal.

U praksi, nijedan moderni diktator nije ispunio ovaj ideal.

Dictators don’t willingly walk away from power,

Diktatori nikad svojevoljno ne napuštaju vlast,

they continuously crave more.

oni konstantno traže još.

That’s why institutions that provide checks on leaders must be safeguarded:

Zato institucije koje pružaju kontrolu nad liderima moraju biti zaštićene:

in the hands of an aspiring dictator,

u rukama potencijalnog diktatora

even seemingly robust democracies

čak i naizgled jake demokratije

can sink into repressive, authoritarian regimes.

mogu potonuti u represivne, autoritativne režime.