There is a phrase in Latin: Promoveatur ut amoveatur—“Let him be promoted to get him out of the way.” It was apparently a pretty common one, not unbelievable considering the nepotist bureaucratic nightmare that was the Roman Empire.
the nepotist bureaucratic nightmare that was the Roman Empire
One of my goals with this thread is to figure out how to avoid such nepotist bureaucratic nightmares, which have historically dominated the long-term outlook of empires from China to Rome to, increasingly, the US.
I’m not sure you’re focusing on the right problem.
The Roman Empire’s biggest problem wasn’t nepotism, it was that the office of Emperor had no clear rules for succession. This tended to result in civil wars between the most powerful generals whenever it came to be vacant.
And there are earlier echos:
One of my goals with this thread is to figure out how to avoid such nepotist bureaucratic nightmares, which have historically dominated the long-term outlook of empires from China to Rome to, increasingly, the US.
The traditional solution is periodic revolutions.
I’m not sure you’re focusing on the right problem.
The Roman Empire’s biggest problem wasn’t nepotism, it was that the office of Emperor had no clear rules for succession. This tended to result in civil wars between the most powerful generals whenever it came to be vacant.