“Despotic rule is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement.”John Stuart Mill · Despre libertate · 1859 · capitolul I
Despotic rule can be legitimate for 'barbarian' peoples only if its purpose is their improvement.
Mill makes a controversial distinction between 'civilized' and 'barbarian' societies. He believes that peoples who have not reached a certain level of development are not yet ready for liberty and need an authoritarian ruler to educate and civilize them. For example, colonization would be justified if it brings education and infrastructure, not just exploitation.
Why it matters Today, this idea is criticized for having been used to justify imperialism, but it challenges us to reflect on the conditions necessary for democracy.