This is similar to the advantage to amnesty for corrupt dictators proposed by Mesquita & White in The Dictators Handbook.
Basically giving authoritarian regimes an alternative to fighting to the death might increase overall utility.
Basically giving authoritarian regimes an alternative to fighting to the death might increase overall utility.
Where as, in a world where such amnesty doesn't exist, they may have to face the possibility of being executed when they lose power (which, if history is to be believed, they eventually do). Therefore, some who are more cowards but cunning won't want to be a dictator, and thus, you end up with a more democratic system.
But if the punishment is so crass that the people prefer to lose their lives instead, that's a clear signal that your society has a problem, and your new regime isn't all that good either.
The problem is that if you cross your advisor, good luck getting a job later.