cWell! Some fascinating thoughts abound and now I'm glad I thought to start this thread.
Helen-The "What If" book I suggest you look at is; "What If? 2: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been
by Robert Cowley (Editor)".
The first one was just about Military scenarios, but the second went futher afield, and I found more interesting.
There is another book I would suggest (Thanks for the "Van Loon" Bob, as you know I am passionate about that book) is called "Einstein's Dreams" by Alan Lightman.

Back to the thread...some of what you said hit the mark a bit more than others for me. I think what I was trying to muse upon was-which comes first-the power base or the figure-head? I realized while reading your comments that it really depends as much on the time in history these people emerge as anything else. In the past, because of the way power was held more singularly, either in the hands of a monarch, or a warlord, or tzar- their power was the first and last word. There were no ruling bodies to answer to ( even Julius had to answer to the senate) and therefore an individual's influence was "purer" if you like. Once there is either a ruling elite, or some kind of cadre, be it military, financial, or religious-then the power is dispursed amonst them, and the ruler becomes more the figure-head.
I brought this up because the "kant" today, especially by the Bush League (and yes, Bush is such an obvious figure head for a ruling elite) is a constant effort to put one face to a greater problem, or ideal. "Saddam is a madman" is a perfect example of the kind of rhetoric attempting to lead the populice to focus on one person being the embodiment of evil.
More on this soon...my laptop is about to die on me!!!....Ellen