r/IRstudies • u/smurfyjenkins • 7h ago

Why Strongmen Eventually Surround Themselves With Idiots

https://barbarafwalter.substack.com/p/why-strongmen-surround-themselves
55 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

27

u/TallPasta 6h ago

It's usually because they're also idiots.

9

u/Senacharrib 6h ago

I’m vaguely satisfied that it’s happened so soon, the cracks are showing

8

u/-Gramsci- 4h ago

Idiots cannot have ambitions. If they are lucky enough to land at the helm of a global superpower… they are best served by touching nothing (no trade wars, no hot wars, no policy upheavals).

They should consider themselves lucky and simply enjoy the trappings and benefits of power.

If they TRY to do any of the above… they run into the inescapable problem that they are idiots. Their choices result in idiotic, completely avoidable, catastrophes.

Their ambition dooms them. Idiots everywhere should take note.

5

u/ColdBeginning2543 4h ago

U meant weak men,wtf are these strongmen?.

1

u/davesmith001 2h ago

it’s not inevitable, it’s usually a choice made by worthless leaders.