According to Vedic civilization, there was no such thing as democracy. It was monarchy, but the monarchy means the king was very highly spiritually advanced. The king was called rajarsi, means king, at the same time saintly person. We have got another example in our country — Gandhi. When he was political leader, he was practically dictator, but because he was a man of very high moral character, people accepted him as the dictator. So dictatorship is good, provided the dictator is highly qualified spiritually. That is the Vedic verdict. The battle of Kuruksetra was there because Lord Krsna wanted rajarsi, Yudhisthira, should be on the head. So the king is supposed to be the representative of God. So he must be a godly person. Then it will be successful.

Srila Prabhupada; Press Conference at Airport — July 28, 1975, Dallas