Of course he could. As any of great villains could.

He could absolutely run the world. 
 
First rule is that everyone also has to wear stylish metal face masks in the name of equality.

If he really wanted it, I believe, he could do it. He certainly has the means to accomplish it. As for why he is always defeated, good must always triumph over evil, even if it doesn't make any sense at the time.Plus I don't understand why everybody wants to rule the world. A little imagination would be nice.

Doctor Doom once slammed a revolving door. He can do anything.

If Norman Osborn could take control. Doctor Doom can conquer the galaxy.

Doom can rule. doom is all.

He's got too much mental baggage holding him back, not to mention his completely ruinous obsession with Reed Richards. Like Norman Osborn, he could probably take over the world, but the few screws loose in their brains will always hold them back.

To me, Doom IS Master of the World.  
  
  

You have to remember that in a comic book universe, no one (good or evil) will ever wield complete control of Earth for a long period of time. Too many plots would be halted or made completely irrelevant (would we need an Avengers team in a dictatorship?).   
 
Doom just gave up during the Emperor Doom storyline and I don't blame him. Not only did things get boring, everyone looked to him to make all the decisions. That's not fun at all. 

I think the answer to this problem has a couple parts to it, some already mentioned: 
 
 1.) Comics are really a parabolic way to discuss the internal and external struggles of good and evil and show that with enough effort, good will prevail in the end.  This overall message keeps writers from putting Doom or any other villain in the driver's seat as the evil world ruler. 
 
2.) Readers don't want to see this happen.  Much of comic reading is a vicarious experience; we readers like to feel as though our own problems are solved as Spider-Man bashes Doc Oc through a wall or Superman launches Darkseid into the void.  Imagine how we'd feel walking away if the bad guys always won.  Pretty icky, I think. 
 
3.) (Last one, I promise).  I think Doom is a bit more of  a complex character than you're giving him credit for.  He was Reed's friend and one of the original members of the Knight's of the Atomic round table.  He helped save the Fantastic Four and the world in Heroes Reunited story arc, and made numerous other efforts to preserve instead of to overcome and destroy.  He doesn't possess the unbridled evil of other characters; he simply serves his own agenda and does what he sees as best for himself and his country.  Getting global attention by global domination just doesn't meet his needs.

You know. After the Big Live Live, "LIVE" show. I thought everyone would take the day off. 

" You know. After the Big Live Live, "LIVE" show. I thought everyone would take the day off.  "

" @KRYPTON said:

" You know. After the Big Live Live, "LIVE" show. I thought everyone would take the day off.  "

Well, they were all off Monday for Labor Day, and as kick-ass as a three-day work week sounds, I'm sure they have a little more integrity than that. "

Taking over the world is one thing. Ruling it's a whole 'nother animal.

You talk about these characters as if they were real people and the events in comics happened because of who they are. The reason Doctor Doom hasn't taken over the world in any comic book is simply because no one has written it.

He could rule the world, but how will he fix healthcare?

I think Emperor Doom merely scratched the surface of what Mark Waid's Empire finally delved into: once the supervillain conquers the world, he's still got to make the trains run on time.

That whole story arc was written to sort of sum up "Doom could do it if he wanted to, but he's smart enough to not want to." Which has actually been said in different ways by a number of different villains and heroes. The smarter villains usually concede to the idea that even if you kill all of the super heroes, the children of the people that survive would give birth to a world full of super heroes based on the mutant population alone. Not to mention the fact that in the marvel universe, if a pin drops just the right way you can get turned into damn near any kind of meta human. Earth 616 is just too infinitely chaotic to ever be ruled.

It's to do with his arrogance. Doom is so sure in his own abilities that he believes every one of his schemes that he comes up with is guaranteed to end in him ruling the world. That's the only thing holding him back. If he checked for the possibility of an error, he would stand a better chance of achieving his goals.

I don't think Doom should worry about Controlling the world. I think it's to much a hassle. He already has Latveria. I'd be satisfied ruling one country enough. Besides even if he tried to rule all the world, the Avengers would smack him down a peg.

I think that he could take over the world but it would be hard since most villains who take over the world always seem to become insane.
 
Didn't he once got hold of the eye of agamotto but looked into it and didn't like what he saw? If he did what did he see that prevented him from throwing away such a powerful item, which would easily allow him to rule the world?

" You know. After the Big Live Live, "LIVE" show. I thought everyone would take the day off.  "

" @KRYPTON said:

" You know. After the Big Live Live, "LIVE" show. I thought everyone would take the day off.  "

The show must go on! "

Doom just seems like the type of person that would be happy if he did rule the world, he get bored and spend most his days in alternate realities fighting their heroes preferably "Richards"

I would love to see an arc where Dr Doom travels through time in order to conquer the world and group of heroes try to follow through time. Maybe a short arc could be done on this, just to pit Fantastic 4 on the spotlight.

Well He already has....well sort of, funny thing is I only read this last week.
What If? Secret Wars

He did a fair amount of conquering and ruling in his 2099 version of himself

Doom and his organization vs. all the heroes and their organizations/associates plus throw in your random villain who'll oppose him because he's Doom or because they have a "change" of heart. In the end, I don't know if most villains can take over the world. As I do not think heroes can rid the world of evil...

Conquering the world isn't that easy, just ask the Shredder

Didn't Doom rule the world for a while, in 2099? :P
 
Maybe Doom would prefer the world to surrender and obey him... Taking it by force would cause civil wars, rebel factions, etc..
 
Though I would like a new Marvel Event to be centered around him someday.. (after Hulk events, a Skrull event, an Osborn one, a Doom would be great~)

He just needs a good moisturizer.

I'd say Doom doesn't want to conquer the world, because as a megalomaniac he wants to be a constant threat to his enemies. Once he's vanquished them all, there's no one left to fear him in a meaningful way, just a cowering world populace falling prey to another dictator. 

he could if he wanted easy 

I've always wondered just what would actually happen if he DID rule the world. Like what would happen to the mutants? Would the FF be executed? would the other villains stand up to him or work with him?

Honestly I get that he's mega powerful and all, but if anyone's gonna take over it would be Magneto. I just always thought of Doom as a coward and cowards can't rule anything for long. Magneto, however, believes passionately in his ideals and would and has done anything to protect them.

I think Dr. Doom has too much pride in himself... Plus he is all high tech and stuff but his mind is stuck in the 70`s.... Ever tried talking to someone who has never moved on like that? They make very dumb debaters and predictable decision makers.

Doom is the man. Cant think of many other great villians on his level

If Doom wanted the world, the world would be Doom's. He isn't a villain, his methods just don't work for some people...Those people being nosy american superheroes. Marvel=Shades of grey, DC=Black. White.

Not as long as RICHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDS is around.

Yes. Yes he could.