--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Non-democratic regimes always need to…" description: "\"Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.\" — Natan Sharansky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg" --- # Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their… ![“Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.” quote by Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg) > “Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.” [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authoritarian regimes create external threats to keep citizens united and suppress dissent. **In simple terms:** Manipulating fear for control. Key Takeaway Question the narrative of external enemies. Themes politics propaganda stability Mood cautious analytical Type political educational When to use this quote - elections - media consumption - public policy Key Concepts authoritarianism social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - Why do regimes use this tactic? - How can societies build internal resilience? A Different Perspective Citizens may resist over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) ## Related quotes > [The good Lord didn't see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratic regimes friendly to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-good-lord-didn-t-see-fit-to-put-oil-and-gas-only-where-there-are-2/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Democratic regimes may be defined as those in which, every now and then, the people are given the illusion of being sovereign, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democratic-regimes-may-be-defined-as-those-in-which-every-now-and/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [The list of non-democratic regimes that have seen significant reforms since 2001 is long and significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-brown-waite/the-list-of-non-democratic-regimes-that-have-seen-significant-reforms/) [Ginny Brown-Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-brown-waite/) > [Mobilize people to vote and to re-elect Clinton as the only way to defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-hall/mobilize-people-to-vote-and-to-re-elect-clinton-as-the-only-way-to/) [Gus Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-hall/) > [“Mental health professionals have said for a long time that individuals cannot adapt well to too many life changes at once. If you suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/mental-health-professionals-have-said-for-a-long-time-that/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [Chinese leaders are walking a tightrope in terms of maintaining internal stability so that the solid platform that has produced amazing results can continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/chinese-leaders-are-walking-a-tightrope-in-terms-of-maintaining/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [I've always been pretty levelheaded. In show business, you need to have a certain internal stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-ve-always-been-pretty-levelheaded-in-show-business-you-need-to-have/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [We have got to mobilize people and rethink our commitment in terms of what our role is in the political process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-have-got-to-mobilize-people-and-rethink-our-commitment-in-terms-of/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [You can't mobilize people and connect with them authentically when they can't see the true you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/you-can-t-mobilize-people-and-connect-with-them-authentically-when/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [“External enemies, however brutal they are, only affect us during one lifetime. They have no power to harm us beyond this life. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/external-enemies-however-brutal-they-are-only-affect-us-during-one/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [We must smother the internal and external enemies of the Republic or perish with it; now in this situation, the first maxim of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilien-robespierre/we-must-smother-the-internal-and-external-enemies-of-the-republic-or/) [Maximilien Robespierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilien-robespierre/) > [Russia is a country that has supported, propped up the worst of anti-democratic regimes in the Middle East, that has practiced - mistreated its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/russia-is-a-country-that-has-supported-propped-up-the-worst-of-anti/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dictatorships start wars because they need external enemies to exert internal control over their own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/dictatorships-start-wars-because-they-need-external-enemies-to-exert/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose/our-own-evil-inclinations-are-far-more-dangerous-than-any-external/) [Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) ## More by Natan Sharansky > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Democratic leaders, whose power is ultimately dependent on popular support, are held accountable for failing to improve the lives of their citizens. Therefore, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/democratic-leaders-whose-power-is-ultimately-dependent-on-popular/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [On the other hand, if the free world is concerned with how a new Palestinian leader governs, then the peace process will have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/on-the-other-hand-if-the-free-world-is-concerned-with-how-a-new/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [To go again over the history of the struggle of resistance ... and to think 'Where are all these people today Where is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/to-go-again-over-the-history-of-the-struggle-of-resistance-and-to/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Those who warned that Gorbachev was being put under too much pressure were wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/those-who-warned-that-gorbachev-was-being-put-under-too-much-pressure/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Unfortunately, little attention was paid to how Arafat ruled. In fact, some saw the harsh and repressive nature of Arafat's regime as actually bolstering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/unfortunately-little-attention-was-paid-to-how-arafat-ruled-in-fact/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [It is important to remember that some of the most serious thinkers once thought that democracy was not compatible with the cultures of Germany,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/it-is-important-to-remember-that-some-of-the-most-serious-thinkers/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/will-dissent-be-permitted-the-answer-to-that-question-will-determine/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [When did America forget that it's America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/when-did-america-forget-that-it-s-america/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [They tried their best to find a place where I was isolated. But all the resources of a superpower cannot isolate the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/they-tried-their-best-to-find-a-place-where-i-was-isolated-but-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Japan is not a Western democracy. The Japanese have kept their traditions, culture and heritage, but they have joined the community of free nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/japan-is-not-a-western-democracy-the-japanese-have-kept-their/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Arafat rejected the deal because, as a dictator who had directed all his energies toward strengthening the Palestinians hatred toward Israel, Arafat could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/arafat-rejected-the-deal-because-as-a-dictator-who-had-directed-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Of course, there can be serious injustices within free societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/of-course-there-can-be-serious-injustices-within-free-societies/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [My theory is that security - also against terror - can only be accomplished through global democratization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/my-theory-is-that-security-also-against-terror-can-only-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Free nations generally look for ways to deal with dictators amicably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/free-nations-generally-look-for-ways-to-deal-with-dictators-amicably/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) [Explore all 46 Natan Sharansky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natan Sharansky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mobilize-their-people-against/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mobilize-their-people-against/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cee/natan-sharansky-14573_enemy_non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mo_1328952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain…” — Natan Sharansky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Natan Sharansky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mobilize-their-people-against/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/non-democratic-regimes-always-need-to-mobilize-their-people-against/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```