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The early Romans had some good success with temporary emergency dictatorships to cut through the deadlock in times of emergency. This didn't really stop working for them till they faced the threat of Hannibal, and appointed Fabius Maximus who spent a few years studiously avoiding direct conflict with Hannibal, and the Senate got impatient and wrested back control.


There was also that one guy, Julius something, who didn't want to give back control ;)


Well, it started with Sulla first; that's where Caesar learned it from.


I don't see what that has to do with the democratic peace, which is about nations propensity to declare war on each other.


I was commenting on the Roman practice of appointing a dictator. See my direct response to you for some thoughts on the democratic peace theory.




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