Tragically, the reason the power is there, is, because the majority of a population has been taught to believe, there is a right to wield such power over real people. (Worse. This belief is that only a member of the political ruling class has this right. No ordinary person has a right to yield such power).
Gengis Kahn didn't rule because people magically believed he had the right to do so, he ruled because he'd kill anyone who disagreed.
RE: Power of the ruling political class