There are few rules of thumb as dependable as these: first, if the word “democratic” features prominently in a country’s official name, the chances of it holding free elections are low; second, if a head of state speaks at length rather than to the point, it is fair to assume the head of state is not in the habit of seeking election, but may depend on some other attribute – patronage or the armed forces, for example – for his or her power.

The link between long-windedness and autocracy was on display in New York this week, as Col Muammer Gadaffi, Libya’s long-time leader, decided the 15 minutes allotted him for his debut speech at the UN General Assembly did not do justice to his weighty arguments. In recognition of his own greatness, therefore, he awarded himself an hour and a half, holding his audience spellbound in horror. (By some measures, this was brief. Fidel Castro spoke for four hours in 1960. Well into his seventies, Mr Castro managed lengthy tirades which showed the CIA had affected neither his health nor his fervour).