Is enlightened despotism superior to democracy?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Is enlightened despotism superior to democracy?
Position‹2 of 2: No, enlightened despotism is not superior to democracy

This position holds that enlightened despotism is no improvement on democracy, because nothing keeps a ruler wise or benevolent once there is no way to remove them, and democracy supplies the consent and correction that unchecked rule cannot.

Supporting arguments · 2

Nothing in unaccountable rule keeps a ruler enlightened
Without a lawful way to remove a ruler, correcting a mistake takes a crisis