Bravado before Exit: The Anatomy of a Dictator's Fall

You can tell a dictator is on his way out when he doubles down on PR that he is ‘still in charge.’

At the peak of his power, General Musharraf was surrounded by his generals and political backers, all telling him that everything was under control. The images coming out of ISPR emphasized ‘unity’ and strong support for General Musharraf within the ranks and across the country. But none of it was true; Musharraf was on his way out. The general who would replace him stood next to him as his closest confidant knew it; so did Musharraf and rest everyone one around. Yet, prisoners to their military training of ‘never giving up’ and limited by their surface-level reading of Sun Tzu, they had mastered the philosophy of ‘look strong when weak’ to a point of delusion that they had internalised too deeply.

The current leader in power is no different. He knows his time is up, and before his departure, the images of ‘power,’ ‘unity,’ and the illusion of control all double down: Bravado before exit!

All dictators rise in their own ways, but all dictators take the same road to their fall. Dictators are weak when they present themselves as all-powerful; they are at their weakest when they have to apply power. The current guy has by now tried both; illusion and application of power.

Expect a fall in the coming Fall.