«Ruling is the objective, not ruling well. It is all about what’s good for the leader, not what’s good for the people. Having competent ministers or competent corporate board members can be a dangerous mistake. Competent people, after all, have potential of becoming competent rivals. It is better to have loyal incompetence than competent rivals.
The three most important factors of a coalition are loyalty, loyalty and loyalty. Successful leaders surround themselves with trusted friends and family and rid themselves of any ambitious supporters.»
The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics, by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita & Alastair Smith