This refers to a theory of politics which elaborates on how various kinds of political leaders capture and hold on to power. It states that leaders primarily care about nothing else but staying in power for as long as possible, and try to manoeuvre their actions accordingly. Further, it elaborates on five rules that smart leaders need to follow to extend their stay in power, and what these rules mean for the welfare of society. It was proposed by American political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita in a number of works including his 2011 book, The Dictator’s Handbook , co-authored with Alastair Smith.