The people of Tropico are loyal and god-fearing. Their support is crucial, but ther whims play second fiddle to the desires of mighty world powers. Without our allies, this island paradise will never transcend its peasantly origins. A capable ruler must strike a balance between the peoples dissonance and the overbearing weight other countries place on Tropican goods and services.

Becoming El Presidente involves accepting your vices. Each leader must choose how deep his or her corruption runs and how prominent it is during their mandate. Assuming power depends on your family connections, government ties, and how cherished you are to your citizens. For me, I am a U.S. figurehead placed to channel valuable resources back to the capitalists. But I am also in cahoots with the Soviet Union and now act as a cable between two warring superpowers.

Unlike the presidents before me, I must contend with an international presence. The Middle East, China, the United Kingdom...they all place high demands on my tiny island's resources and financial support. Whenever one of my many allies wrongs another, I am forced onto a slippery precipice. Do I condone the actions of one world power and lose a substantial amount of leverage with another? If I choose to take a firm stance against one of my international partners, I risk being invaded or bankrupted as that nation cuts off part of my meager financial aid.

For the first time, Tropico is on the world stage. Before, we were considered an isolated, developing nation -- perhaps even childish. Now we must carry the world on our shoulders or collapse under the pressure. Refusing to balance the country's wants with foreign demands is a dangerous approach. If getting rich and fleeing Tropico is your goal, ignoring national and international obligations is reasonable. Any money you get is easily funneled into a Swiss bank account. When the people eventually overthrow you, it's nice having a stack of cash to cushion the fall. That's if they don't kill you, anyway....

This is the first of many reflections on my time as El Presidente. I am no longer a dictator. I am a struggling middleman in an economic machine I can only barely comprehend. My power comes and goes depending on what paper I sign and which lobbying party I listen to. For the first time, the stress and weight of running an island nation has hit home, and I want to share that with all of you.

This is part one of a four-part series chronicling the rise and fall of El Presidente in Tropico 4. The world's changed and Tropico must change as well.