personalrule

Personal rule, also referred to as personalist rule, denotes a governance pattern in which power is concentrated in a single individual who governs primarily through personal authority rather than through formal, insulated institutions. In such regimes, legitimacy often hinges on the ruler’s charisma or authority, and loyalty is directed at the person rather than the state or a party. Institutions may exist, but they are typically subordinate, co-opted, or operated as tools of the ruler.

Key features include centralized control by one leader, decision-making that rests on personal preference rather than codified procedures, and a reliance on patronage networks to secure loyalty. The ruler may cultivate a loyal entourage of family members, military officers, and political allies, while opposition is managed through co-optation, intimidation, or suppression. The formal legal framework is often bypassed when convenient, and the ruler’s authority can override institutional checks and balances.

Mechanisms commonly associated with personal rule include distributive politics and patronage, control of budgets and rents from state resources, manipulation of the judiciary and media, and targeted repression of dissent. Succession tends to be informal and precarious, with power passing through personal networks rather than constitutional norms. Corruption and rent-seeking are frequently linked to this form of governance, as personal networks rather than formal rules determine access to opportunities.

Contexts where personal rule may arise include weak or underdeveloped state institutions, leadership built on charisma or coercive power, and situations of prolonged rule or conflict where formal checks are weak. Notable examples cited in political science literature include Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire, Omar al-Bashir in Sudan, and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.