Do Countries with Dictators Need a Constitution?
In a nutshell, dictators don’t need constitutions but often use them as a tool to increase their power. While a dictator’s rule is based on patronage and personal ties with the military and treasury, they find it advantageous to have a constitution.
This may seem paradoxical, but dictators love constitutions. In a liberal democracy, a constitution imposes rules and divides power among different branches and institutions to protect citizens from the state. In a dictatorship, a constitution can be seen as a perversion of the original intention, used like a doctor who employs his knowledge to kill people in new and excruciating ways.
Basic Reasons for Having a Constitution in a Dictatorship
Political Legitimacy: The constitution can confer political legitimacy to the ruler or ruling party. This provision is often meant for a domestic audience to discourage political opposition. Setting Ideological Tone: One of the things that dictatorships love is lengthy preambles that set an ideological tone, providing legitimacy to the ruling party and its 'ideological aspirations' of 'the people'. Increasing State Power: Constitutions can increase the power of the state by creating bureaucracies and not separating different branches of government.Challenges in Coexistence
Dictatorships and constitutions often have trouble coexisting, primarily because being a dictator means being above the law. Any existing constitution would come with the footnote that the dictator is not bound by these rules.
Additionally, in theocracies, people have very little say, and the dictator, considering himself above the law, would not abide by the rules written in the constitution. Therefore, having a constitution would be largely pointless in practice.
Further Study
For further study, the book “Constitutions in a Nonconstitutional World” by Nathan J. Brown is highly recommended. This book provides a deeper understanding of the dynamics between dictatorial regimes and constitutional frameworks.
Understanding the relationship between dictatorships and constitutions is crucial for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of modern political systems. By examining the reasoning behind a dictator’s use of a constitution and the inherent challenges to coexistence, we gain valuable insights into the functioning of such regimes.