Has there ever been a good dictator?

1,554,490 plays|

Stephanie H. Smith |

TED-Ed

• May 2024

Under certain conditions, the idea of a dictator can sound appealing, like when a democracy isn’t functioning as it should due to corruption or political polarization. People may believe the solution is a "benevolent dictator"— a leader who only uses their absolute power for the common good. But can such a leader actually exist in today’s world? Stephanie Honchell Smith examines this common myth. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by André Aires].