The spirit of despotism: Understanding the tyrant within Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries ABSTRACT The objective of this article is to better understand the develop- mental history of despotic regimes and the existence of leadership by terror. To gain greater insight into this phenomenon, the unusual relationship between leaders and followers in despotic regimes is explored, and the self-destructive cycle that characterizes such regimes is examined. The price paid in the form of human suffering and the breakdown of the moral fabric of a society is highlighted. In this article, particular attention is paid to highly intrusive totalitarian regimes. The levers used by such regimes to consolidate their power base are discussed in detail. The role of ideology, the enforcement of mind-control, the impact of the media, the inception of the illusion of solidarity, and the search for scapegoats are part of the review. Finally, suggestions are made on how to prevent despotic leaders from gaining a hold on power. Observations are made about the newly founded International Criminal Court, a permanent inter- national judicial body that has been specially set up to try despotic rulers for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. KEYWORDS democracy  despotism  leadership  paranoia  societal regression  totalitarianism The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness . . . This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector. (Plato, The republic) 195 Human Relations DOI: 10.1177/0018726706062732 Volume 59(2): 195–220 Copyright © 2006 The Tavistock Institute ® SAGE Publications London, Thousand Oaks CA, New Delhi www.sagepublications.com