This book released just two months ago, THE DICTATOR'S HANDBOOK: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics, may be sensationally titled, because the author is addressing all supreme political leaders regardless of the political system in which the operate. Also, pyramidal hierarchies are fractal, so it's easy to see how the theory applies to all political leaders -- and the techniques they use in whatever position, are the "rules of the game" they learn as they move up. Bottom line: self-interest always rules. This would seem to support directly our working hypothesis of a 3D STS planet, and that psychopaths are best at the political game.
The author, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, is a political scientist and professor at New York University, 66 years old, who also heads his own political forecast consulting company, suggesting that he has an interest in being correct. He has also studied Game Theory. He has another book released two years ago, THE PREDICTIONEER’S GAME: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future, in which he says that politics is predictable by expecting political leaders to serve themselves, and uses Game Theory to support his hypothesis.
Basics of the book (based on reviews - I haven't read it yet)
1. Politics is about getting and keeping political power. It is not about general welfare.
2. Leaders who depend on only a few cronies are in the best position as long as they are generous in sharing the spoils.
3. Make sure the cronies know that there is a large pool of potential replacements if they get out of line.
4. Greed is good within limits, but there is always the danger of popular uprising if the economy becomes dysfunctional.
Put bluntly, the book says: “Paying supporters, not good governance or representing the general will, is the essence of ruling.” Leaders do whatever keeps them in power. They don't care about the national interest — or even their subjects — unless they have to.
That reminds me of the famous George Bernard Shaw quote, "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
_http://www.perseusacademic.com/book.php?isbn=9781610390446&disc=2
Nothing in the reviews that suggests the author has a plan for what to do or how to change things (which makes the book more innocuous and less "threatening," if so), but it might be a good primer.
The author, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, is a political scientist and professor at New York University, 66 years old, who also heads his own political forecast consulting company, suggesting that he has an interest in being correct. He has also studied Game Theory. He has another book released two years ago, THE PREDICTIONEER’S GAME: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future, in which he says that politics is predictable by expecting political leaders to serve themselves, and uses Game Theory to support his hypothesis.
Basics of the book (based on reviews - I haven't read it yet)
1. Politics is about getting and keeping political power. It is not about general welfare.
2. Leaders who depend on only a few cronies are in the best position as long as they are generous in sharing the spoils.
3. Make sure the cronies know that there is a large pool of potential replacements if they get out of line.
4. Greed is good within limits, but there is always the danger of popular uprising if the economy becomes dysfunctional.
Put bluntly, the book says: “Paying supporters, not good governance or representing the general will, is the essence of ruling.” Leaders do whatever keeps them in power. They don't care about the national interest — or even their subjects — unless they have to.
That reminds me of the famous George Bernard Shaw quote, "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
_http://www.perseusacademic.com/book.php?isbn=9781610390446&disc=2
Nothing in the reviews that suggests the author has a plan for what to do or how to change things (which makes the book more innocuous and less "threatening," if so), but it might be a good primer.