h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Germans always had a Kaiser, even though they call him chancellor today. The fatter, the longer he sits.
The Russians have a Czar. For a time they called him General Secretary of the Communist Party, until they decided that title was too long. For a short time they had a Gorbatshov, but didn't keep him, as he was not czarish enough. Now they have Vladimir, they always had Vladimirs in Russia.
The English always had a monarchy, sometimes it comes with a parliament, and was never called anything else.
The Americans wish they also had a monarchy, preferably without much parliament to get in the way. They're having now the second shot at a dynasty, the first shot having hit slightly too near the mark.
The Arabs keep their sheikhs; anyone who thinks to change that got another think coming soon, to a place near you.
China always had an imperial bureaucracy. The Chinese Wall won‘t need to come down over the question of capitalism or socialism, the imperial bureaucracy can handle either equally orderly.
The French say plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.