OP could rephrase the point as "strong central leader with absolutist powers vs. democracy." The fact that some of your examples fall on somewhere on a linear scale between the two doesn't really detract from your ability to evaluate the point.
Yes, that is one of the several possible interpretations I thought of. My goal was to point out that the query, as given, is too ambiguous for a meaningful response.
In US history, this is our second organizational system. The Articles of Confederation was too decentralized, so we decided on a stronger federal system.
So if the US system is judged as "the best", then it's an example of where a more decentralized form of government is better than going from a centralized power. The Swiss confederation might be another example.
But change the meaning of "the best" slightly, perhaps so that Iceland tops the list, then there will be totally different answers.
OP could rephrase the point as "strong central leader with absolutist powers vs. democracy." The fact that some of your examples fall on somewhere on a linear scale between the two doesn't really detract from your ability to evaluate the point.