Source: The Rules for Rulers – YouTube, by CGP Grey
RE: The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics (2012), by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith
No man rules alone
- Keep the key supporters on your side
- Control the treasure
- Minimize key supporters
Countries where farmers’ votes don’t swing elections don’t have farming subsidies.
There is still much you can do. Once in power, make it easier for your key blocs to vote, and harder for others. Establish votings systems that reduce the number of blocs you need to win the more rivals you get. Draw election borders to predetermine the results for you or your cronies, and have party pre-elections with byzantine rules to determine who blocs even can vote for. Mix and match the above for even better power perpetuation. When approval ratings couldn’t be lower yet re-election rates couldn’t be higher, you’ll know you’ve succeeded.
You could take the moral path and ignore the big keys, but you’ll fight against those who didn’t. Good luck with that.