Abstract
There is much debate over whether Catherine the Great was an enlightened despot. This paper discusses that, despite contentions that her policies were enacted to only benefit herself, Catherine the Great studied the works of leading enlightened thinkers so that she could make educated decisions for her country. It explains how Catherine the Great's exact goals as a ruler may be found in her 1766 work, entitled "Instructions to the Commissioners for Composing a New Code of Laws," which references enlightened thinkers of the day and promoted the creation of a free society. Although Catherine the Great did not achieve all of her enlightened goals, she took steps that allowed them to be realized in the future.

From the Paper
"Despite occasional shortcomings, Catherine the Great ruled Russia as a true enlightened despot from 1762 to 1796. During that time, she corresponded with many renowned thinkers of the enlightenment and converted their theories into law. Additionally, she made significant agricultural and scientific reforms, and she attempted to bring equality to Russian society. Although she failed to end serfdom, she promoted the ideals of equality for all under the law. Because of this, Catherine the Great must be considered a dedicated and successful enlightened despot."

Tags:beccaria, code, commissioners, diderot, encyclopedia, enlightenment, montesquieu, revolution, russia, serfdom, serfs, voltaire

Abstract
The political doctrine of enlightened despotism, after enjoying great prestige in the 18th century, has fallen on hard times in the 19th and 20th centuries. On the level of political theory, it was eclipsed first, in the late 18th century and through much of the 19th century, by the doctrine of limited constitutionalism, whether republican or constitutional monarchy.

From the Paper
"The political doctrine of enlightened despotism, after enjoying great prestige in the 18th century, has fallen on hard times in the 19th and 20th centuries. On the level of political theory, it was eclipsed first, in the late 18th century and through much of the 19th century, by the doctrine of limited constitutionalism, whether republican or constitutional monarchy. In the 20th century, it has been eclipsed even more forcibly by the doctrine of democracy. Even political systems that are in practice purely despotic now tend to veil themselves in the forms of parliamentary democracy.

Thus, few today will say a good word for despotism, enlightened or otherwise. Yet a strong argument can be made that, in practice, only an enlightened despot can intelligently solve a country's problems, particularly when that country is ..."

From the Paper
"This study will examine the life of Turkish leader Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918).


Of the three sources consulted for this study, two are unabashedly critical of Hamid and his despotic rule, and one attempts to maintain objectivity. The latter work, Alma Wittlin's psychological study Abdul Hamid: The Shadow of God, "seeks to portray the last of the . great Oriental despots, a man who figured most prominently in ... one of the great and decisive developments in modern history --- the trend of the East towards Western civilization . . . . " (Wittlin 6)


While Wittlin tries to keep Hamid in the context of history and global political change, S.V. Bedickian (The Red Sultan's Soliloquy) and Sir Edwin Pears (Life of Abdul Hamid) have little but contempt for Hamid. Although Hamid is included in the Basil..."

Abstract
This paper looks at the media along with the control of media forms by historical and despotic governments such as Stalin's regime and Nazi Germany. The paper also discusses how the media can be used to abuse public matters and provides a recommendation of stronger laws to possibly bring some media agencies into line.

From the Paper
"Until the governments actually lay out rigid guidelines for media agencies there will always be invasion of privacy issues, libellous acts and breaks in national security, until such time there will be more and more indirect control of the media by governments. However, it must be stressed that these rigid laws must not be all controlling and non sympathetic to the journalists need to report the facts and truth, the law should not deny this for once truth is denied we lose our ability of the freedom of the press completely."

Tags:radio, television, print, Solomon, Mikhoels, corporate, ownership, Maxwell

From the Paper
"Political theorists have long pondered the formula for a successful governing system. In doing so, despotism and majoritarian rule have arisen as two possible forms of government. John Stuart Mill in On Liberty, and Alexi de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, both refute the idea of despotic rule, not of a single ruler, but of the majority. The "tyranny of the majority,"[1] as Mill describes, is worse than straightforward dictatorship and should be avoided. Tocqueville concurs that unlimited power, in the hands of an absolute majority that is able to exercise both physical and moral control, is dangerous to the sovereignty of the individual. "

Tags:america, democracy, despotisms, freedom, government, liberty, majoritarian, power, rule

Abstract
The paper shows how Enkidu, within "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is, to some extent, a different type of hero than is his counterpart-Gilgamesh. For the most part, he is portrayed as being inferior to Gilgamesh, but he is also used as the vehicle through which the despot king becomes a benevolent ruler, and an honorable man. The paper discusses how although he certainly experiences important lessons over the course of the story-such as the power of the gods and the ways of civilization-his most important traits seem to exist from the moment of his molding from the clay of the earth. The paper posits that this suggests that the moral instinct he possesses is something specific to mankind; but also something that we all possess as relatively small players in the vast scheme of things.

From the Paper
"Enkidu, within "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is, to some extent, a different type of hero than is his counterpart--Gilgamesh. For the most part, he is portrayed as being inferior to Gilgamesh, but he is also used as the vehicle through which the despot king becomes a benevolent ruler, and an honorable man. Enkidu seems to possess this grounding capacity, this chivalrous nature innately. Although he certainly experiences important lessons over the course of the story--such as the power of the gods and the ways of civilization--his most important traits seem to exist from the moment of his molding from the clay of the earth. This suggests that the..."

Tags:enkidu, gilgamesh, chivalry

Abstract
This paper explains that the Taino Indians inhabited the island at least 5,000 years prior to Christopher Columbus' discovery of America; these natives were eliminated by smallpox, which Columbus brought with him. The author points out that the Trujillo administration for more than thirty years made massive spending in building infrastructure; however, the despot himself, his family and his associates cornered the major part of the monetary gains. The paper relates that the pattern of the last 500 years of abysmal poverty and complete government mismanagement and corruption by the people in power has continued with the election of President Leonel Fernandez, who made the things ever worse when he depreciated the currency to the dollar by 50% and enhanced taxes and prices to insure poverty for his people.

From the Paper
"During the late 1970s, the pace of economic growth demonstrated a shortfall while the sugar prices varied and the quadrupling of oil prices that initiated in 1973 converted the terms of trade of the nation to become negative. Progressive deficits in the balance of payments, reducing revenues of the government coming out of the extensive tax exemptions, and growing expenditures on state-operated companies quickly enhanced the national debt. During the early 1980s, oil prices again enhanced to a great extent, the international recessions diverted the local economy, and sugar prices hit a forty-year low, and never before high interest rates on foreign loans threw the economy into the whirlwind of balance of payments deficit and growing external debt."

Tags:taino, trujillo, poverty, corruption, heureux

Abstract
This paper examines how, in his formative essay, "On Liberty", Mill approaches the issue of governmental and societal tyranny. In particular, it looks at how he approaches the basic areas in which liberty is important, in addition to discussing the problem of tyranny, which can abridge those liberties. It shows how Mill provides an historical look at the ways in which tyranny has been played out and details its evolution from a tyranny of the despot to a tyranny of the majority.

From the Paper
"The basic problem of tyranny has always been with humankind, and may in fact be the foundation of our society. Mills suggests that tyranny may be the only way to cement primitive "barbarian" cultures, and that where civilization is so lacking that it is as if all the people are like children in development it may be necessary to so restrict their freedoms so as to let the society survive. However, this is not the case, he adds, with any society where his book might be read or understood. As mankind left the primitive stage, it remained true that tyranny was necessary for the protection of the people. In this early form of tyranny, there was a single ruler (or ruling force) to which people turned for protection but from whom they in turn sought to protect themselves."

Tags:society, freedom, government

Abstract
This paper examines how Samuel Morison turns a personal life interest into a passion as he studies the life and journeys of Christopher Columbus in his book, "Christopher Columbus, Mariner". It shows that, while the modern view of Columbus has been rewritten and disfigured by multiculturalists into that of a greedy, slave-mongering, tyrannical despot, Christopher Columbus's journey and his exploits arose from his deep convictions, and these actions qualify him as one of the greatest explorers of all time.

From the Paper
"His lack of actual empirical knowledge of the length of the journey, and not knowing about the continent which lay between Columbus and the Far East is one more of the factors which make his journey such a triumph of spirit and dedication to his chosen task. After long negotiations, Columbus was financed for his voyage by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and in the fall of 1492, three ships were prepared in the harbor Palos (p. 35). On August 3, 1492, the fleet left Palos heading westward, parallel of Gomera. The weather was good; "like April in Andalusia," as Columbus wrote in his diary."

Tags:spain, ferdinand, isabella, hispaniola

Abstract
This paper evaluates how the United States has done something that its European relatives admire it achieved a stable democracy free of aristocratic and religious tyranny and this was accomplished in a relatively bloodless fashion. The Europeans, whose struggles to break free of religious and political domination paved the way for the American Revolution. This paper examines the idea of democracy and shows how America today is an egalitarian society free of a class or caste system that is not ruled by a despot or tyrannical religious leader.

From the Paper
"As far as religion was concerned, Deism had replaced Christianity in America and even early practitioners such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine believed in the fundamental idea that every religion had its place in the new society. Deism's fundamental difference from other religions seemed to rest on the fact that Deists didn't believe all the miracles that were pervasive in other religions. Other faiths in Europe used miracles and stories as tales to commoners to bolster or support for a politician or religious leader who as the person "closest to God," is able to "translate." This misuse of power would never be supported in America."

Tags:egalitarian, society, religion, europe, french, revolution, democracy, 911