Paper Summary:

This paper explains why the current leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, epitomizes John Locke's definition of a tyrant. The paper explains that Locke's definition of a tyrant is that of a sovereign who attempts merely to protect and enshrine his own power and wealth and is not concerned with the protection and welfare of the citizens of his country. The paper further explains that Mugabe fits Locke's definition of a tyrant perfectly because of his brutal treatment of his country's citizens and the abuse of his powers to protect and enhance his own wealth.

From the Paper:

"The history of colonialism and the history of political philosophy have given rise to many ironies. One early manifestation of the irony was when the British 17th century philosopher John Locke's Second Treatise on Government gave the philosophical justification for the American Founding Fathers to resist the English government's domination over the North American colonies. John Locke's statement that the protection of the citizen's life, liberty, and preservation of property was the ultimate aim of government, not the monarchy's self-interested personal self-preservation was echoed in the language of "The Declaration of Independence" in 1776."

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