City Government and the wisdom of Lord Vetinari

Ankkh Morpork under the kind hand of Lord Vetinari is a successful city, a city that creates. It's an "arrival city" and does many of the things that {Doug Saunders} writes about in Arrival city. I happened to be rereading Fifth elephant while I was reading Arrival City and the parallels are amazing. Except Vetinari does it better. The man has Style.

Why does he succed when real despots fail, and by fail I don't mean get overthrown, fail to provide good government. Even Gudhaffi started out as a semi idealistic young Colonel who wanted the best for "his" people, and ironically seems to think he provided it.

Absolute lack of personnal corruption, he does nothing for his or his familys gain or comfort, see nanny ogg's cookbook for his diet and living style and he has no family. And is not trying to ensure a succession for a son.

He appears to be, like Pratchett, an atheist and doesn't try to impose any moral standards, though he certainly has high standards of behaviour, odd maybe.

I often reread good novels, I think I am going to hunt out the series within the Discworld series that is about Ankh morpork and reread them, paying special attention to Havelock.

To get some background into Lord Vetinari you should read Night Watch.

He does have an aunt and a small dog ...

#1 "Why does he succed when real despots fail,"

Err. Cos he's not real? Real people don't behave (quite) like AnkhMorpockians. Or live in such simplisitic cities with such simple nations around them.

I do agree though that he is one of pTerry's best characters (although Vimes is perhaps even more cynical). Re-reading the city books is definetly worthwhile.

He is not afflicted with the belief that he has total power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I have not idea how he escaped, there have been others in real life, but they are rare.

Perhaps i ahould have said what could a real despot learn from Vetinari. well as Bess.glenn says, he knows he rules without total power.

>3 reading_fox:

What do you mean "He's not real."? We are talking about Lord Vetinari here, aren't we?

I've just seen Roan Atkinson in a Blackadder episode. He IS Vetineri.. .. .. .. .. ..

No, no, no. Atkinson is too spoofy looking. David Bowie is Vetinari. :)