Purpose The paper aims to consider system and control ideas which are useful in analysing problems in human science. Design/methodology/approach Three arts of dictatorships are considered, namely: dictatorship in a developing country, dictatorship in a developed country and the global dictatorship. The conditions leading to these dictatorships are explained. Findings Two arts of democracies are discussed and the common parameters of democracies and dictatorships are determined. In all the above, the position of the people is discussed. Originality/value An ideal democracy is suggested which can be considered as a goal for a better world and as reference for evaluation.