> They can be all dissatisfied they want but a few crackdowns always put them in line, and in the end this is what matters.
Until it doesn't. World history is the history of power being consolidated and then (often forcibly) distributed, either to new consolidators or democracies of various types.
For many years I've been worrying that this becomes harder and harder as surveillance technology improves. I'm also concerned that free media makes it much easier for foreign powers to disrupt things. An issue that doesn't destabilize authoritarian countries. These two potential trends or forces have me very worried about the long-term future of mankind with authoritarian becoming a one-way road.
Until it doesn't. World history is the history of power being consolidated and then (often forcibly) distributed, either to new consolidators or democracies of various types.