Introduction
Each epoch of the historical cut designates the features of peoples’ cultural, traditional, religious, economic, and political preferences. In this respect the role of state leaders was of great significance for each time period in the history. The reigning and dictating were provided since the ancient times. However, the fullness of execution the dictatorship perceived in times of Julius Caesar. Moreover, Cicero was one within main contributors in working out the background for declared political relations. Hence, the paper is intended to evaluate the reasons for dictatorship provided by two eminent dictators from ancient and contemporary times, namely: Julius Caesar and Robert Mugabe. Their destinies in most points were the result of their personal skills and abilities which they used in practice with a mere extent of aptness and sophisticated approach toward people.
Main Body
First of all, it is vital to identify the role of Julius Caesar and his contributions to the humanity and to the society of Romans, in particular. This person is known everywhere for his witty attitude toward global things which mattered in the war with enemies and in the internal relationships. The wisdom of this person provides a huge scope of reasoning about the reality of his time. Moreover, Caesar was greatly talented in personal physical and mental skills which helped him to be rather different from his contemporaries and rivals. Caesar was genius almost in everything which was related to the state power and rational reigning. He was too magnificent for his military prominence and ability to provide wars with use of different tactics. Caesar knew his place in the Roman Empire and never exaggerated personal achievements. This man of honor was also a great orator with a particular manner of speaking being so splendid and touching for all listeners that it is not surprising why there were so many followers of Julius Caesar. Furthermore, he was valued by other eminent persons of his time. Thus, Cicero did not hesitate to confess about his personal opinion as of Caesar. Dillon & Garland (2005, p. 98) outlined such straightforward evaluation by Cicero in a following way:
Certainly, Cicero, in his enumeration of orators in his Brutus, confessed that he had never seen anyone to whom Caesar should yield precedence, and describes his style of speaking as elegant and clear, even dignified and in a sense noble.
Hence, the ability and opportunity to maintain power by Julius Caesar was not accidental, but deserved owing to his strong and up-to-date arguments and knowledge base which served as the main “battle field” for him before any fight. Though, Julius is a great example of how the dictatorship should be provided. Moreover, it is one more persuasion in the fact that dictators prove their destination due to the role which is highlighted for a particular leader of the country in terms of supposed usurpation of power on each level. Here comes an assertion that nothing but talent and the fact of being in the higher circles of the society and winning the victory among the population is a signal for non-accidental result of suchlike transition from lower to upper echelons of power.
The wisdom of Caesar also shows his maturity almost in all spheres of the state life. It is emphasized mainly on grounds of his military actions and operations against main enemies. This person succeeded in decision making, when, for example, he pronounced the historically eminent phrase Cross the Rubicon or Veni Vidi, Vici. In all aspects Caesar showed his supremacy over the closest rivals or alleged candidates on his place. He fought for the well-being of the Roman Empire in order to keep in safety the existing shaping of the huge empire and to spread it farther. Although, there were different controversies with the contemporaries of Caesar, he was capable to provide diplomatic approach in working out the hot discussions or even struggles in the Senate. Also, being the dictator of such huge empire Julius never rejected personal participation in military actions. What is more, this leader willingly participated in constructing of lodgment plans. His urgency and success in political success in provision of republican state power “played a box” with him. It was owing to the envy and sincere hatred of colleagues in the Senate. Nonetheless, Caesar showed the etalon for leading and taking care of the state attributes of power.
Robert Mugabe is the example of contemporary dictatorship with its nationalist approach. The thing is that living in Rhodesia and then in Zimbabwe Mugabe was able to identify the real threats for Zimbabwe which he saw initially in the colonial activity from the side of Western countries. The danger of Imperialism was the main reason for Mugabe’s urge for power from the younger years of life. Today the President of Zimbabwe reigns almost 30 years since 1980 (Chan, 2003). In this person the people of the country saw the idea leader who would be able to struggle against social, economic, and political problems. Mugabe began resolving this problem by means of usurpation of power in its fullness. His methods are quite appropriate for the country, and this leader is eminent for his line of reforms. However, his policy is distinctively characterized by the tyranny in methods for state power, because he always tried to abolish those who attempted to win some branches of state power which belonged to him (Chan, 2003). Strength of his acts and legal procedures cannot be objected by anyone due to deliberateness of decisions taken and the reliability of programs and projects, first of all, for agricultural sector. Being the leader of Zimbabwean African Nationalist Union (ZANU), he tried to make every effort to share Black Nationalism not only inside the country, but also abroad (Glaude, 2002). He was able to protect the population from lack of education and unemployment. Strict and rather aggressive methods by Mugabe proved an idea that no nation except Zimbabwean one should use natural resources and the wealth of the country. American and European former dominance in the country Mugabe greatly criticized, and tried to force the military background of the country by so-called “new war veterans” (Norman, 2004). All in all, Mugabe is the only man in Zimbabwe who in 1980 was able to become the official leader of the country owing to his abilities and skills which were helpful in making decisions at “rush hours” for the country.
Conclusion
To sum up, both dictators deserve respectful attitude due to their ability to rule masses of people. In case with Julius Caesar such capability was executed with prominent approach of talent in military affairs. Robert Mugabe is well-known for his urge for independence and protection of the Zimbabwean nation from Western “imperialism”.
Reference
Chan, S 2003, Robert Mugabe: a life of power and violence. I.B.Tauris, London.
Dillon, M & Garland, L 2005, Ancient Rome: from the early Republic to the assassination of Julius Caesar, Taylor & Francis, London.
Glaude, ES 2002, Is it nation time?: contemporary essays on black power and black nationalism. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
Norman, A 2004, Robert Mugabe and the betrayal of Zimbabwe. McFarland, WI: McFarland.