The first attempt to describe a perfect state was Plato's Republic, supposedly a formulation of his master Socrates' ideas on the subject.
I first read the Republic when I was 12 years old, and what Socrates argued for very eloquently was a dictatorship modeled on Sparta, so foul and alien to my (or even Athenian) ideals that I could not believe that this man has been considered a model of western philosophy for thousands of years. As I grew older and was able to read Plato with more understanding I was only confirmed in my original impressions.

Socrates was eventually condemned and executed by his countrymen, not only for his promotion of a military dictatorship over the Athenian democracy, but for his collaboration with the tyrants and oligarchs which staged a coup and succeeded in running Athens as their own private corporation for years until they, too, were finally sent packing by the "rabble". Plato's description of the trial, and his quoting of Socrates' brilliant defense speech (in spite of his obvious bias), only further convinced me that Socrates got a fair trial, was given every opportunity to withdraw peacefully or select exile. He chose execution, instead.

Personally, I think he got exactly what he deserved.