Democracies resist assassination because their leaders are readily replaceable

Evidence

The medieval French historian Joinville explains why. Speaking of the head of the Assassin order he says: “He paid tribute to the Templars and to the Hospitalers because they feared nothing from his Assassins, since the leader of the Assassins could gain nothing if he caused the Master of the Temple or the Master of the Hospital to be killed; for he knew very well that if he had one killed another just as good would replace him, and for this reason he did not wish to lose assassins where he could gain nothing by it.” — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 561 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Assassination fails against institutions with replaceable leaders — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting…, 561; Democracies are harder to build but also harder to destroy than authoritarian regimes

Broader Connections

• Assassination fails against institutions with replaceable leaders #expands (0.95) — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 561