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The Dictator's Dilemma: Understanding Modernizing Regimes

The delicate balancing act that dictators face is perhaps most exemplified through the lens of modernizing a nation-state. Imagine being an authoritarian leader of a relatively small yet impoverished country, where your neighbors are accelerating ahead both militarily and economically. You aspire to cultivate a nation that might entice tourists, which would eliminate the familiar scene of staged villages and propaganda. Evoking a sense of pride and purpose, you understand that investing in your economy and military is crucial. However, every time you contemplate reform, the specter of overthrow looms large.