Do dictators know they're evil?

[Mario149]

Obviously, in present context I'm thinking about Kim Jong whatsit in North Korea, but the question applies to all authoritarian dictators/regimes past and present.

Do they know they are evil and doing bad things and just don't give a st? Or do they genuinely think they are the saviour of their people, keeping their country's best interests at heart, and the rest of the international community are Satan's capitalist/colonial/communist/<insertrelevantsteroetypehere> spawn out to destroy them?

Or do they have another thought process going on?

I honestly don't know and was wondering what others thought. If I had to pick one, I'd actually go for the second answer I suggested.

[Fittster]

Dictators have grasped Arrow's impossibility theorem and understand the only voting method that isn't flawed is a dictatorship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow's_impossibility...

[Jasandjules]

Mario149 said:

Do they know they are evil and doing bad things and just don't give a st?

Yep. Usually dictators massacre dissidents and even just the educated. They wish to ensure that they remain in power, that is the aim, and they will do whatever they can to do so.

[cs02rm0]

Are they all evil?

[Cara van Man]

Mario149 said:

Obviously, in present context I'm thinking about Kim Jong whatsit in North Korea, but the question applies to all authoritarian dictators/regimes past and present.

Do they know they are evil and doing bad things and just don't give a st? Or do they genuinely think they are the saviour of their people, keeping their country's best interests at heart, and the rest of the international community are Satan's capitalist/colonial/communist/<insertrelevantsteroetypehere> spawn out to destroy them?

Or do they have another thought process going on?

I honestly don't know and was wondering what others thought. If I had to pick one, I'd actually go for the second answer I suggested.

I could answer that.......but it will cost you one billion dollaaaaaaaaaars.......

[tegwin]

Depends on your definition of evil.... dont forget that "one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist!"

[kambites]

Well I'm sure they all believe that they are doing what's best for the part of society that they consider important.

[kelk]

Kim's not evil.

He's ronery, so ronery

[Sheets Tabuer]

I don't think they could give a crap if they are thought of as evil or not and they certainly don't have the peoples best interest at heart, it is all about them and their cronies keeping power, being rich and living the high life out of view.

They live like kings and keep the people oppressed.

[Hugo a Gogo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEle_DLDg9Y

[AJS-]

I don't necessarily believe they are evil. I think it's a matter of circumstance and opportunity.

I don't believe that Blair/Brown/Major or Cameron are any more morally committed to democracy and liberty than Hussein, Kim Jong Il or anyone else. They just use to tools and the language that are most effective to gain power in the time and place they find themselves.

It's the constraints and the environment we as a society put on our politicians that determines the good or evil they do.