Enlightened despotism

Neocons and neo-Wilsonians just don't get it.

Ataturk.

It's the tradition of Peter the Great.

Or Frederick.

I suppose nowadays these enlightened despots have to be regarded as a species of dictators of the right, though it was liberals who heaped their accolades.

In any case our modern neocons, leftists, and Wilsonians despise their modern epigones.

But they did much good for their peoples with their reforms, in contrast with the oceans of harm done by the reds of Russia, China, and elsewhere.

And they historically preceded and paved the way for the republicanism of the later Enlightenment.

Their work had to come first.