[27], One-party dictatorships are more stable than other forms of authoritarian rule, as they are less susceptible to insurgency and see higher economic growth. [80] Italian dictator Benito Mussolini seized power in 1922, and began implementing reforms in 1925 to create the first fascist dictatorship. The earliest military dictatorships developed in the post-classical era, particularly in Shogun-era Japan and in England under Cromwell. For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. Delivered to your inbox! BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the people, especially the workers, to stand up against the government. dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dicttra. [54], Asia saw several military dictatorships during the post-classical era. In other new countries, the armies seized power, and military dictatorships were established. It either lies with a single person or a small group of people. You won't find a dictator who calls himself a dictator. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. In the most brutal dictatorships, the citizens live in extreme poverty because the government withholds food and supplies in order to keep the people under control. According to Ford, Dictatorship is the assumption of extra-legal authority by the Head of the State. That's because 'dictator' is a pejorative term assigned to certain rulers by other nations, particularly the developed nations of the West - that is, countries with thriving economies - such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and many others. Most do not use the title "dictator" but rather use terms such as: Dictatorships have certainly evolved over the centuries. Military dictators may also be less trusting or diplomatic and underestimate the use of bargaining and compromise in politics. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives at a government . Example: A dictatorship exists when a leader has absolute power that is unchecked by any other branches of government. Often, dictators come to power through military coups or by undermining democracy. Factions or divisions among the elites will mitigate their ability to bargain with the dictator, resulting in the dictator having more unrestrained power. [99] A 1953 coup overseen by the American and British governments restored Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as the absolute monarch of Iran, who in turn was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 that established Ruhollah Khomeini as the Supreme Leader of Iran under an Islamist government. [74] The Bolsheviks consolidated power by 1922, forming the Soviet Union. These individuals form an inner circle, making up a class of elites that hold a degree of power within the dictatorship and receive benefits in exchange for their support. In the contemporary world, in some countries that have not experienced the full impact of industrialization, governing elites are still often recruited from a ruling classa stratum of society that monopolizes the chief social and economic functions in the system. However, over the years, these governments evolved into national leaders and were put in their position of power by nationalistic military officers. For example, in 19th century Latin America, various dictators came into power after central authority collapsed in the nations recently freed from Spanish colonial rule. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [73], The first communist state was created by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks with the establishment of Soviet Russia during the Russian Revolution in 1917. Hybrid dictatorships are regimes that have a combination of these classifications. As the Cold War went on, the Soviet Union increased its influence in Africa, and MarxistLeninist dictatorships developed in several African countries. The crucial elements of both were the identification of the state with a single mass party and of the party with its charismatic leader, the use of an official ideology to legitimize and maintain the regime, the use of terror and propaganda to suppress dissent and stifle opposition, and the use of modern science and technology to control the economy and individual behaviour. In some such countries, elected presidents and prime ministers captured personal power by establishing one-party rule and suppressing the opposition, while in others the army seized power and established military dictatorships. [88] European fascism was imported to Latin America as well, and the Vargas Era of Brazil was heavily influenced by the corporatism practiced in fascist Italy. Between 1950 and 2016, one-party dictatorships made up 57% of authoritarian regimes in the world,[26] and one-party dictatorships have continued to expand more quickly than other forms of dictatorship in the latter half of the 20th century. [107] The development of the internet and digital communication in the 21st century have prompted dictatorships to shift from traditional means of control to digital ones, including the use of artificial intelligence to analyze mass communications, internet censorship to restrict the flow of information, and troll farms to manipulate public opinion. [23] Military coups do not necessarily result in military dictatorships, as power may then be passed to an individual or the military may allow democratic elections to take place. Although the term oligarchy is rarely used to refer to contemporary political systems, the phenomenon of irresponsible rule by small groups has not vanished from the world. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Dictators make unilateral decisions that affect their countries without having to consult any other branch of government. The general population has no say in the functioning of the government. A dictatorship is a form of government in which a person or a small group rules with almost unlimited power. The modern caudillo proved to be less a provincial leader than a national one. In many of the states of Africa and Asia, for example, dictators quickly established themselves on the ruins of constitutional arrangements inherited from Western colonial powers. The Democracy-Dictatorship Index is seen as an example of the minimalist approach, whereas the Polity data series is more substantive. Governments classified by mode of succession, Succession by constitutional prescription, Governments classified by stage of development, Protection of political and social rights, Development and change in political systems. Personalist dictatorships are more common in Sub-Saharan Africa due to less established institutions in the region. He began his rule in 2011 and has been the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! [11][12] He describes totalitarian regimes as exercising control over politics and political mobilization rather than merely suppressing it. They usually allied themselves with a particular social class, and attempted either to maintain the interests of wealthy and privileged elites or to institute far-reaching left-wing social reforms. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitario in the early 1920s to characterize the new fascist state of Italy, which he further described as "all within the state, none outside the state, none . dictatorship: 1 n a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) A dictatorship is a form of government, where one person effectively has all the power to run a country. A totalitarian government has "total control of mass communications and social and economic organizations". [57] The rule of a dictator was not necessarily considered tyrannical in Ancient Rome, though it has been described in some accounts as a "temporary tyranny" or an "elective tyranny". Other factors associated with military coups include extensive natural resources, limited use of the military internationally, and use of the military as an oppressive force domestically. They may also employ techniques of mass propaganda in order to sustain their public support. This may be ensured through incentives, such as distribution of financial resources or promises of security, or it may be through repression, in which failing to support the regime is punished. Modern dictatorships first developed in the 19th century, which included Bonapartism in Europe and caudillos in Latin America. [116] Dictatorships in the Middle East are primarily guided by Islamic nationalism. [19], Military dictatorships are regimes in which military officers hold power, determine who will lead the country, and exercise influence over policy. [20][21] They are most common in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A nation, government, or form of government in which absolute power is wielded by a dictator. [54][55] The concept of "dictator" was first developed during the Roman Republic. There are three main characteristics of a dictatorship. [10] Political scientist Juan Jos Linz identifies a spectrum of political systems with democracies and totalitarian regimes separated by authoritarian regimes with varied classifications of hybrid systems. The group may be military or political, it may be organized or disorganized, and it may disproportionately represent a certain demographic. Indeed, in some circumstances, the new elites may use their power to convert themselves into a governing class whose interests are protected by every agency of the state. Caudillos were often nominally constrained by a constitution, but the caudillo had the power to draft a new constitution as he wished. The 20th century also saw the rise of personalist dictatorships in Africa and military dictatorships in Latin America, both of which became prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. It was initially aligned with Yugoslavia, but its alignment shifted throughout the Cold War between Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and China. [143], Terrorism is less common in dictatorships. Accessed 1 May. The term "dictatorship" comes from the Latin word "dictator." [1] A dictatorship that is ruled by soldiers is called a military dictatorship or junta. The people living in dictatorships are often subjected to human rights abuses and severe limits to their personal freedom. Origin 1540-1580 Middle English < Latin dicttor (dictator + ship) What is a Dictatorship [17] Between 1946 and 2010, 42% of dictatorships began by overthrowing a different dictatorship, and 26% began after achieving independence from a foreign government. scholarly analysis of Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin and Mao, as well as Kim Il-sung of North Korea; Franois Duvalier, or Papa Doc, of Haiti; Nicolae Ceauescu of Romania; and Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia. Dictators are incentivized to avoid the use of violence once a reputation of violence is established, as it damages the dictatorship's other institutions and poses a threat to the dictator's rule should government forces become disloyal. [111][112][113] Latin America saw a period of liberalization similar to that of Europe at the end of the Cold War, with Cuba being the only Latin American country that did not experience any degree of liberalization between 1992 and 2010. The crucial elements of both were the identification of the state with the single mass party and of the party with its charismatic leader, the use of an official ideology to legitimize and maintain the regime, the employment of a terroristic police force and a controlled press, and the application of all the means of modern science and technology to control the economy and individual behaviour. These nationalist movements supported non-alignment, keeping most Middle Eastern dictatorships out of the American and Soviet spheres of influence. The proclamation of emergency rule, for example, was the beginning of the dictatorships of Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, Kemal Atatrk in Turkey, Jzef Pisudki in Poland, and Antnio de Oliveira Salazar in Portugal. This means that the ruler or party has complete control. 2023. Dictatorship definition: Dictatorship is government by a dictator. [117] Generally, two research approaches exist: the minimalist approach, which focuses on whether a country has continued elections that are competitive, and the substantive approach, which expands the concept of democracy to include human rights, freedom of the press, and the rule of law. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. [85] After being defeated in World War II, the far-right dictatorships of Europe collapsed, with the exceptions of Spain and Portugal. Poverty has a destabilizing effect on government, causing democracy to fail and regimes to fall more often. [42] Within a personalist regime an issue called "The dictators dilemma" arises. Unlike in the United States and other similar nations, the people living in a dictatorship have no rights of free speech, freedom of religion, a free press or even the right to hold an opinion in opposition to the ruler and ruling party. The National Liberation Front & People's Army of Vietnam | History, Purpose & Strategy, The Power of the Federal Judiciary: Sources & Consequences, Totalitarian Government | Characteristics & Examples. In many cases, of course, such provisions have been the instruments with which dictators have overthrown the regime. Military dictatorships are controlled by military officers, one-party dictatorships are controlled by the leadership of a political party, and personalist dictatorships are controlled by a single individual. By contrast, Soviet communism grew out of a revolutionary theory of society, pursued the goal of revolutionary overthrow of capitalist systems internationally, and employed the complex bureaucratic structures of the Communist Party as mechanisms of governmental organization. Dictatorships can be formed by a military coup that overthrows the previous government through force or they can be formed by a self-coup in which elected leaders make their rule permanent. Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. Write an essay of approximately one to two pages that describes the characteristics of life under a dictatorship. While common in the 20th century, the prominence of military dictatorships declined in the 1970s and 1980s. She has a Master's degree in History. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The 69-year-old leader, who has sought to dispel concerns about his health weeks before a crucial election, has canceled several campaign stops. [75] Lenin was followed by Joseph Stalin in 1924, who consolidated total power and implemented totalitarian rule by 1929. Question . These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dictatorship.' Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of fundamental civil liberties. The result is that such regimes have no internal checks and balances, and are thus unrestrained when exerting repression on their people, making radical shifts in foreign policy, or starting wars with other countries. A dictatorship is a system of government in which a single person or party has complete political power; the dictator often maintains power by employing oppressive methods. [101] Albania was established as a communist dictatorship under Enver Hoxha in 1944. [29][30] The use of ruling parties also provides more legitimacy to its leadership and elites than other forms of dictatorship[31] and facilitates a peaceful transfer of power at the end of a dictator's rule. During times of domestic or foreign crisis, even most constitutional governments have conferred emergency powers on the chief executive, and in some notable cases this provided the opportunity for duly elected leaders to overthrow democracy and rule dictatorially thereafter. They seize power to benefit themselves, their families and their close political allies. The communist and fascist dictatorships that arose in various technologically advanced countries in the first half of the 20th century were distinctively different from the authoritarian regimes of Latin America or the postcolonial dictatorships of Africa and Asia. [3] Elites must also compete to wield more power than one another, but the amount of power held by elites also depends on their unity. A dictatorship is a form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no limitations on them. Be sure to explain the role of the cult of personality and human rights abuses. [142] The use of violence by a dictator is frequently most severe during the first few years of a dictatorship, because the regime has not yet solidified its rule and more detailed information for targeted coercion is not yet available. Preference falsification, Internal politics, data scarcity, and restriction of media are just a few examples of the dangers of a personalistic authoritarian regime. Far-left and far-right dictatorships used similar methods to maintain power, including cult of personality, concentration camps, forced labour, mass murder, and genocide. [105] To maintain power, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet organized Operation Condor with other South American dictators to facilitate cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies and secret police organizations. The complex decisions required of governments in a technological era, the perfectionist impulses of the great bureaucratic structures that have developed in all industrialized societies, and the imperatives of national survival in a nuclear world continue to add to the process of executive aggrandizement. But in a modern-day dictatorship government, one person (or a small group of individuals) has complete control over the government regardless of whether there is a state of emergency or not. As a result, dictatorship became one of the two dominant forms of government utilized by countries. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Dictatorship in the technologically advanced totalitarian regimes of modern fascism and communism was distinctively different from the authoritarian regimes of either Latin America or the postcolonial states of Africa and Asia. A personalist dictator will manage these appointees by segmenting the government so that they cannot collaborate. Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine are the only democratic nations in the region, with Israel being the only nation in this region that affords broad political liberties to its citizens. Instead, dictators have ordinary titles such as president, emperor, great leader and similar monikers. An error occurred trying to load this video. In modern times, it's not unusual to hear news stories about dictators being elected by their citizens, when in fact the elections are manipulated through intimidation of voters to ensure the dictator's victory. This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 19:44. (See personalismo.) Instigated by multiple governments in South America, Operation Condor resulted in hundreds, potentially thousands, of human rights . Under this system, there are three types of dictatorships. Example: Dictators frequently use psychological manipulation. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Even in constitutional regimes, no fully satisfactory answer has been found to the question of how these bureaucratic decision makers can be held accountable and their powers effectively restrained without, at the same time, jeopardizing the efficiency and rationality of the policy-making process. The dictator has absolute power. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Phoenix. Alfred says, Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Monarchy Lesson for Kids: Definition & Facts, Nigeria's Dictators & Their Impact on the Country. In an essay of about two to three paragraphs, define dictatorship and explain how a dictator can rise to power. Dictatorship is an old form of government with origins in ancient Rome. Marxist one-party states are sometimes distinguished from other one-party states, but they function similarly. This was replaced by a trend of developing a positive public image to maintain support among the populace and moderating rhetoric to integrate with the global community. [98] Several Middle Eastern countries were the subject of military coups in the 1950s and 1960s, including Iraq, Syria, North Yemen, and South Yemen. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Definition of Dictatorship Noun Absolute, imperious, or haughty power or control. Elites are also the primary political threats of a dictator, as they can leverage their power to influence or overthrow the dictatorship. [9] Political philosopher Hannah Arendt describes totalitarianism as a new and extreme form of dictatorship composed of "atomized, isolated individuals" in which ideology plays a leading role in defining how the entire society should be organized. [100] Josip Broz Tito declared a communist government in Yugoslavia during World War II, which was initially aligned with the Soviet Union. To enact policy, a dictator must either appease the regime's elites or attempt to replace them. The country suffered for many years under his, His enemies accused him of establishing a, Today, Russia under President Vladimir Putin is an autocracy verging on military, Lest this only conjure up images of a repressive, The latter includes the now-defunct dark web market Hydra as well as North Koreas infamous Lazarus Group, a team of hackers that carries out sophisticated cyber and crypto robberies to support the, After seven brutal years in power, the Armed Forces finally withdrew from the Executive, allowing open elections in which Alfonsn handily took the popular vote with a mandate to investigate the crimes committed during the 1976-1983 military, Inevitably, during his life, Pel encountered problems: his commercial activities were sometimes mired in controversy; at one stage he was labeled a left-wing antagonist of the Brazilian government, then was later described as being too conservative in his views of the Brazilian, Chilean author Nona Fernndez grew up alongside the violence of the Pinochet, At least since the infamous dread pirate Captain Flint haunted the pages of Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island, pirate vessels have been treated in the popular imagination as floating, Post the Definition of dictatorship to Facebook, Share the Definition of dictatorship on Twitter. Indeed, the constitutions of some Western democracies explicitly provide for the grant of emergency powers to the executive in a time of crisis to protect the constitutional order. See examples of ancient and modern dictatorships. Try not to focus so much on whether you are right or wrong, but rather, ask yourself if the leaders that you put on the list fit the characteristics ascribed to dictators. A dictatorship is a form of government which is characterized by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no limitations on them. [78], At the same time, nationalist movements grew throughout Europe. The term dictatorship comes from the Latin title dictator, which in the Roman Republic designated a temporary magistrate who was granted extraordinary powers in order to deal with state crises. While a dictatorship is a form of government in some nations, just as monarchy or representative democracy is the form of government in others, dictatorships are seen by non-dictatorships as dangerous and cruel because of the way they tend to treat their citizens. [115], The Middle East and Northern Africa did not undergo liberalization during the third wave of democratisation, and most countries in this region remain dictatorships in the 21st century. The famous 19th-century caudillosAntonio Lpez de Santa Anna of Mexico or Juan Manuel de Rosas of Argentina, for examplewere thus essentially provincial leaders who seized control of the national government to maintain the social and economic power of provincial groups. [69], In the time between World War I and World War II, several dictatorships were established in Europe through coups which were carried out by far-left and far-right movements. [64][65][66], Dictatorship developed as a major form of government in the 19th century, though the concept was not universally seen pejoratively at the time, with both a tyrannical concept and a quasi-constitutional concept of dictatorship understood to exist. The two systems, however, may be distinguished in several ways. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. They tended to ally with a particular social class and attempted either to maintain the interests of wealthy and privileged elites or institute far-reaching left-wing social reforms. [25], One-party dictatorships are governments in which a single political party dominates politics. Exceptions to the pattern of poverty in dictatorships include oil-rich Middle Eastern dictatorships and the East Asian Tigers during their periods of dictatorship. During the 19th and 20th centuries, many monarchies (a form of dictatorship) started to decline and disappear. Strict government-imposed constraints on social freedoms such as suppression of political opponents and anti-regime activity The presence of a ruling executive with vague, shifting, and loosely-defined powers Modern dictatorships such as Venezuela under Hugo Chvez and Cuba under Fidel Castro typify authoritarian governments. [93] Chiang Kai-shek continued to rule as dictator of the National government's rump state in Taiwan until his death in 1975. [72] The societal upheaval caused by World War I and the unstable peace it produced further contributed to instability that benefited extremist movements and rallied support for their causes.
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