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
"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

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine the cycle of political despotism and freedom that is characteristic of the history of Russia, from the period of Tsar Nicholas I to the current period. The plan of the research will be to set forth the scope and limit of the study in the context of political development in Russia, and then to discuss what could be called the pendulum of social experience that has affected dramatic political and cultural change in the country.

The modern post-monarchical history of Russia is embedded in its monarchic past. To understand how and why sociocultural and sociopolitical change has so dramatically affected Russia from time to time, it is necessary to understand the forces militating both for and against such change throughout the country's history. And a decisive fact about that history is the massive ..."

From the Paper
"This research paper summarizes developments in the nature of Islamic states during the 12th, 13th and 14th (Western calendar) centuries. The most important changes were the following: (1) declining political unity and loss of significant territory; and (2) the emergence of new political institutions which varied by region, including the Islamicization of foreign ruling elites, a deepening of the roots of Islamic religious and cultural influence in many states and the evolution of mixed Islamic and traditional oriental despotisms in others.

The Rise and Partial Disintegration of the Arab Empire
In the 7th and 8th centuries, the Islamic theocratic regime established by the Prophet Muhammad and his successors in Arabia..."

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
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

Abstract
An in-depth examination of the role of climate and how it leads a nation either to freedom or despotism. This paper takes seriously the discussion of Montesquieu in "Spirit of the Laws" and provides an in-depth analysis of his arguments and how the negative effects of climate may be reversed.

From the Paper
"Among the most controversial parts of Montesquieu's Spirit of the Laws has to do with the relation of climate to the laws. According to Montesquieu, if characters and passions vary according to climate, the laws ought to take this into account (231). In part three of The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu gives his opinion as to how people living in various parts of the world are affected by climate, and how as a result, laws differ to take these differences of character into account. He ultimately concludes that although climate is a major factor that may lead a nation to despotism, the wise legislator can, in many cases, take steps to counteract its effects."

Tags:despotism, freedom, government, law, montesquieu, politic, politics, society

Abstract
The combination of ambition, ego, and drive was what allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to institute various beneficial reforms, but these very traits also caused his good intentions to result in cruelty and despotism. This paper presents an analysis of Napoleon's social and financial reforms, his reorganization of the government, religious tolerance, and territorial expansion. It supports the assertion that Napoleon truly believed he was going to reform France for the better; however, his underlying egotistical character was what ultimately prompted many of those reforms to take a turn for the worst.

From the Paper
"Napoleon, in seeking to become "a warrior hero who was to eventually save France", embarked on the creation of a unified European Empire with him as ruler (Dwyer, 128). Driven by his genuine belief that he was destined to create a peaceful France, Napoleon viciously sought imperial power. He aimed to reduce British power, strengthen his military position, and improve imperial trade in Europe through his Continental Blockade. The achievement of these goals undoubtedly would have benefited the French people. However, the Continental Blockade was an ineffectual means of achieving these goals and was driven by Napoleon's ego, which caused him to focus solely on hurting Britain so that no other nation was more powerful than France."

Tags:18th, century, revolutionary, Continental, Blockade

Abstract
Philosophers have held different ideas about the nature of freedom and human beings' responsibility for their own liberty. A review of three conceptions of freedom in this paper, held by John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Dewey, demonstrates how such ideas were often developed in direct relationship to the writers' own times and circumstances. The paper shows that Locke was an Englishman living in a nation where certain rights were guaranteed but a balance had to be maintained between the rights of individuals and the power of the crown. Rousseau wrote in the shadow of the despotism inherent in the absolute monarchy of France. It shows that Dewey lived in the world's first representative democracy, where freedom had long been guaranteed and its exercise was the responsibility of the individual.

From the Paper
"Each of these three conceptions opposes its idea of freedom to the oppressiveness of tyranny and each places responsibility for securing freedom on human beings themselves. But where Locke saw this as an occasional matter that arose when tyrants gained control of government, Rousseau believed that individuals, having imposed their corrupt institutions on themselves by giving up too much of their freedom, needed to rid themselves of these limiting conditions and replace them with new institutions that worked in accordance with the natural liberty that had been forfeited by civilized humanity. Dewey, who lived, after all, in a representative democracy, disregarded such concerns and saw it as each individual's responsibility to expand her/his sphere of action by making intelligent choices--regardless of whether such choices involved action within one's family, one's profession, or one's society."

Tags:representative, democracy, New, Deal, Discourse

Abstract
This paper examines how the book, "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville, considers the phenomenon of democracy as it manifests itself in the United States. It looks at how, apart from legislative authority, democracy carries with it certain dangers that, if not properly dealt with, will result in despotism by the majority.

Outline
The Love for Equality
Individualism
Materialism
The Preservation of Liberty in the Face of Democracy
Association and Press
Religion
De Tocqueville's Relevance

From the Paper
"The main premise for this argument include the sovereignty of the people and the power of public opinion. De Tocqueville sensibly argues that equality precludes the importance of any one person's rule over another, since nobody can claim to be more important than any other. However, to establish order in society, a certain rulership has to be established. The only way to achieve this is by the rulership of the majority, which then can lead to despotism. This happens by means of tyranny of the majority. Because everybody is seen as equal, no opinion is more important than any other. Thus, the opinion of the majority is in effect adhered to, in order to satisfy the majority. A further implication of equality is that the minority, being equal to the majority, has not right to disagree with the majority, as this implies that such an opinion is more important than that of the majority. This is the basis of despotism; that the minority is helpless to resist the general opinion, and thus liberty is undermined."

Tags:liberty, materialism, religion, individualism, equality