A dictatorship is a form of government in which most or all authority of the country is in the hands of a single individual; the leader. These countries maintain parliaments and human rights organizations, but these remain under the control of the countries' respective dictators. [75] Lenin was followed by Joseph Stalin in 1924, who consolidated total power and implemented totalitarian rule by 1929. It does not involve any electoral process for the appointment. They may be military officers, party members, or friends and family of the dictator. [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. Rule by dictator. 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.) [68] The Spanish American wars of independence took place in the early-19th century, creating many new Latin American governments. However, modern dictators do not resemble ancient dictators as their absolute power is not in response to a crisis or emergency and is also not temporary. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. 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The person dominates all the subjects of the country or state which he's ruling. Some dictators also have a charismatic personality, according to Max Weber, which can make them appealing to citizens regardless of the force and violence they apply. Government Overview, Purpose & Types | What is a Government? I feel like its a lifeline. In military dictatorships, it is the military that exerts complete or substantial control over the government rather than a political clique. Between the 1990s and the 2000s, most dictators moved away from being "larger-than-life figures" that controlled the populace through terror and isolated themselves from the global community. Preference falsification, Internal politics, data scarcity, and restriction of media are just a few examples of the dangers of a personalistic authoritarian regime. [5] This is particularly true when the inner circle is made up of military officers that have the resources to carry out a military coup. 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. Even as he tightens his grip on power the end is visible. Biden finally ready to shift into campaign mode | The Hill The people do not have any choice with regards to by whom or how their country will be run. [126] A military coup is often carried out when a regime is threatening the country's stability or during periods of societal unrest. Dictatorship - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com Dictatorship means that system of Government which rests on a single person and that is of high authoritarianism. The predominance of violent force in military training manifests in an acceptance of violence as a political tool and the ability to organize violence on a large scale. The meaning of dictator is to grant a person absolute or unlimited government power during an emergency. Leslie Beecher has been in the field of education for over 15 years serving as a tutor, teacher and instructional designer. [98], One of the tasks in political science is to measure and classify regimes as either democracies or dictatorship (authoritarian) countries. [78], At the same time, nationalist movements grew throughout Europe. Factions or divisions among the elites will mitigate their ability to bargain with the dictator, resulting in the dictator having more unrestrained power. [38] Due to the lack of accountability and the smaller group of elites, personalist dictatorships are more prone to corruption than other forms of dictatorship,[39] and they are more repressive than other forms of dictatorship. [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. The root word dictator comes from the Roman Republic when a "dictator" would be appointed temporarily during an emergency or state crisis. [138], In the 20th century, most dictatorships held elections in which voters could only choose to support the dictatorship, with only one-quarter of partisan dictatorships permitting opposition candidates to participate. 18 Dictatorship Examples (2023) - Helpful Professor The Kim family, specifically Supreme Leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, has ruled North Korea since 1948. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. During this time, the country was ruled by a military junta headed by General Augusto . Marxist one-party states are sometimes distinguished from other one-party states, but they function similarly. Between 1967 and 1991, 12 Latin American countries underwent at least one military coup, with Haiti and Honduras experiencing three and Bolivia experiencing eight. The use of the term dictatorship originated in the Roman Republic. [87], The decolonisation of Africa prompted the creation of new governments, many of which became dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s. A dictatorship is a form of government where one person, or a small group of individuals, can make decisions without effective constitutional limitations. Monarchies may be dynastic, in which the royal family serves as a ruling institution similar to a political party in a one-party state, or they may be non-dynastic, in which the monarch rules independently of the royal family as a personalist dictator. Stability in a dictatorship is maintained through coercion and political repression, which involves the restriction of access to information, the tracking of the political opposition, and acts of violence. Dictatorship definition: Dictatorship is government by a dictator. Example: Dictators frequently use psychological manipulation. Dictators usually resort to force or fraud to gain despotic political power, which they maintain through the use of intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. Organized opposition is a threat to the stability of a dictatorship, as it seeks to undermine public support for the dictator and calls for regime change. While the term has been used several times throughout history, most common usage of the term is in relation to different types of dictatorships that existed in the 20th and 21st centuries. [18], A classification of dictatorships, which began with political scientist Barbara Geddes in 1999, focuses on where power lies. A military dictatorship is a form of government in which the military holds most or all political power. Dictatorships that fail to repress the opposition are susceptible to collapse through a coup or a revolution. Totalitarianism is the most extreme form of authoritarianism and is considered an oppressive method of ruling a nation. Several dictatorships have persisted into the 21st century, particularly in Africa and Asia. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/dictatorship, dictatorship - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), dictatorship - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Human nature being what it is, dictators don't rise to power for the good of their nations (though they usually claim otherwise). Dictatorship definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary What Is a Dictatorship? - Reference.com A Roman dictator was a special magistrate that was temporarily appointed by the consul during times of crisis and granted total executive authority. Dictatorship News, Research and Analysis - The Conversation 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. The general population has no say in the functioning of the government. In a dictatorship, the dictator has. Single-party dictatorships are one-party states in which only the party in power is legalized and all opposition parties are banned. Instead, dictators have ordinary titles such as president, emperor, great leader and similar monikers. [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. [25], One-party dictatorships are governments in which a single political party dominates politics. [56] At least 85 such dictators were chosen over the course of the Roman Republic, the last of which was chosen to wage the Second Punic War. [17] Between 1946 and 2010, 42% of dictatorships began by overthrowing a different dictatorship, and 26% began after achieving independence from a foreign government. Many forces at work in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have appeared to lend impetus to the rise of monocratic forms of rule. The dictatorship was established after the democratically elected socialist government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup d'tat backed by the United States on 11 September 1973. Instigated by multiple governments in South America, Operation Condor resulted in hundreds, potentially thousands, of human rights . Articles on Dictatorship. ", "The Cromwellian Protectorate: A Military Dictatorship? Most today are one of five types: Approximately 10% of countries today are considered dictatorships. Many of the classical conditions of oligarchic rule were found until the 20th century in those parts of Asia in which governing elites were recruited exclusively from a ruling castea hereditary social grouping set apart from the rest of society by religion, kinship, economic status, prestige, and even language. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The constitutional systems inherited from the colonial powers proved unworkable in the absence of a strong middle class; local traditions of autocratic rule retained a powerful influence; the army, one of the few organized forces in society, was also often the only force capable of maintaining order; and a tiny intellectual class was impatient for economic progress, frustrated by the lack of opportunity, and deeply influenced by the example of authoritarianism in other countries. Make a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that shows the methods dictators use to control their people. This means that the ruler or party has complete control. A totalitarian government has "total control of mass communications and social and economic organizations". As a result, dictatorship became one of the two dominant forms of government utilized by countries. 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. [108], Dictatorship in Europe largely ended after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the liberalization of most communist states. They seize power to benefit themselves, their families and their close political allies. Dictatorships frequently hold elections in order to establish their legitimacy or provide incentives to members of the ruling party, but these elections are not competitive for the opposition. Totalitarianism is a type of governmental system in which the government exerts a domineering level of control over the population. Dictatorship - Definition, Examples, Cases, Processes - Legal Dictionary There are three main characteristics of a dictatorship. In a dictatorship, the dictator has absolute power. Military dictatorships may be ruled by a single high-ranking military officer or by a group of such officers. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A dictatorship is a form of government, where one person effectively has all the power to run a country. The people living in dictatorships are often subjected to human rights abuses and severe limits to their personal freedom. 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. In the Roman Republic, the title "dictator" was temporarily given to an individual to deal with state crises and emergencies. 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. [133] A study found that dictatorships that engage in oil drilling are more likely to remain in power, with 70.63% of the dictators who engage in oil drilling still being in power after 5 years of dictatorship, while only 59.92% of the non-oil producing dictators survive the first 5 years. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Dictators tend to resort to force or fraud to gain political power. dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dicttra. 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. International Retailing Strategy & Operations, GED Social Studies: Civics & Government, US History, Economics, Geography & World, Intro to Excel: Essential Training & Tutorials, Financial Accounting: Homework Help Resource, UExcel Business Law: Study Guide & Test Prep, Introduction to Human Resource Management: Certificate Program, Human Resource Management: Help and Review, College Macroeconomics: Homework Help Resource, Introduction to Macroeconomics: Help and Review, UExcel Business Ethics: Study Guide & Test Prep, Principles of Business Ethics: Certificate Program, DSST Computing and Information Technology Prep, Create an account to start this course today. Industrialization produces new, differentiated elites that replace the small leadership groupings that once controlled social, economic, and political power in the society. Dictatorship: Its Types and Reasons | by Old Times - Medium After World War II, for example, in both the United States and Britain, the use of extraordinary powers by the executive came to a halt with the end of the wartime emergency. [86] After a brief period of democratization, Latin America underwent a rapid transition toward dictatorship in the 1930s. [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. 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. Sovereignty Concept & Kinds | What is Sovereignty? Nicolas Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician and has been the president of Venezuela since 2013. Foreign Minister Cohen heading to Turkmenistan to open embassy 15 miles Stability can be weakened when opposition groups grow and unify or when elites are not loyal to the regime. 2023. [124], Several factors determine the stability of a dictatorship, and they must maintain some degree of popular support to prevent resistance groups from growing. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. These movements were a response to what they perceived as decadence and societal decay due to the changing social norms and race relations brought about by liberalism. It is an authoritarian form of government where one person is in charge of enforcing and enacting the law. 279 lessons. Totalitarianism | Definition, Characteristics, Examples, & Facts Write an essay of approximately one to two pages that describes the characteristics of life under a dictatorship. Elites are also the primary political threats of a dictator, as they can leverage their power to influence or overthrow the dictatorship. [118][119][120][121], Most dictatorships exist in countries with high levels of poverty. Dictators employ techniques of mass propaganda in order to sustain public support. [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. [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. [6], The opposition to a dictatorship represents all of the factions that are not part of the dictatorship and anyone that does not support the regime. [82], Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party created a second fascist dictatorship in Germany in 1933,[83] obtaining absolute power through a combination of electoral victory, violence, and emergency powers. Most do not use the title "dictator" but rather use terms such as: Dictatorships have certainly evolved over the centuries. 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. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the people, especially the workers, to stand up against the government. Economies based on natural resources allow dictators more power, as they can easily extract rents without strengthening or cooperating with other institutions. Korea experienced military dictatorships under the rule of Yeon Gaesomun in the 7th century[58] and under the rule of the Goryeo military regime in the 12th and 13th centuries. Dictatorship - Wikipedia In nearly all political systems, the powers of chief executives have increased in response to the demanding social, economic, and military crises of the age. She has a Master's degree in History. [98] Several Middle Eastern countries were the subject of military coups in the 1950s and 1960s, including Iraq, Syria, North Yemen, and South Yemen. Dictatorship is a form of government characterized by the absolute rule of one person or a very small group of people who hold all political power. A self-proclaimed leader, usually an army officer, heading a private army typically formed from the peasantry with the support of provincial landowners, established his control over one or more provinces, and then marched upon the national capital. 6 Startling Advantages of Dictatorship That You Never Thought Of 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. 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. A dictatorship is a form of government characterized by the rule of one person or a small group of people who have no checks and balances on their power. At various points in the 20th and 21st centuries, during periods of domestic or foreign crisis, most constitutional regimes conferred emergency powers on the executive, suspending constitutional guarantees of individual rights or liberties or declaring some form of martial law. [51] In the modern era, absolute monarchies are most common in the Middle East. Question . dictatorship summary | Britannica [67] In Europe it was often thought of in terms of Bonapartism and Caesarism, with the former describing the military rule of Napoleon and the latter describing the imperial rule of Napoleon III in the vein of Julius Caesar. They are not held accountable for their actions and are free to do as they please, even limiting citizens' freedom and rights. The ruler of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Russia has all the working parts of a democratic state, but since Putin took power, experts believe these working parts have been made to serve him and those close to him. Ruler often rises to power out of conflict, Dictators control all branches of government and the media, Intimidation, murder, imprisonment, violence and other human rights abuses are used to control the population, A cult of personality makes the ruler appear divine, Consider the factors that make a country a dictatorship, Describe the quality of life under a dictator's rule. Democracy Features & Examples | What is a Democratic Country? The rigging of elections is just one example of how citizens in a dictatorship have little to no personal freedom. However, over the years, these governments evolved into national leaders and were put in their position of power by nationalistic military officers. 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. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples To enact policy, a dictator must either appease the regime's elites or attempt to replace them. All rights reserved. The dictatorship is characterized by concentrating power in a single person or small group , while in the democratic government system the separation of powers allows freedom to be maintained and the powers control each other. The 20th-century dictatorships in Latin American countries had different aims. Many dictatorships thrive on a cult of personality that results in the ruler being seen and even worshiped as a god. Vladimir Putin's Russia is headed for a military dictatorship - and Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! When a cyclone swept over the country, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions without food or shelter, the country's military dictatorship blocked humanitarian aid from reaching the people until it could hold a sham election.
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