The Democracy-Dictatorship Index is seen as an example of the minimalist approach, whereas the Polity data series is more substantive. 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. Most modern-day dictators rise to power for personal reasons, which are not usually benevolent or for the good of the country's citizens. A nation, government, or form of government in which absolute power is wielded by a dictator. [79] Fascism developed in Europe as a rejection of liberalism, socialism, and modernism, and the first fascist political parties formed in the 1920s. [98], During World War II, many countries of Central and Eastern Europe had been occupied by the Soviet Union. Many are noted for their cruelty, while others are honored as national heroes. [28] Due to the structure of their leadership, one-party dictatorships are significantly less likely to face civil conflict, insurgency, or terrorism than other forms of dictatorship. In a dictatorship, the dictator has. These caudillos, or self-proclaimed leaders, usually led a private army and tried to establish control over a territory before marching upon a weak national government. A 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. By contrast, dictators take power by force or by misleading the people. Personalist regimes diverge from other regimes when it comes to their longevity, methods of breakdown, levels of corruption, and proneness to conflicts. dictatorship, form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. 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. In military dictatorships, it is the military that exerts complete or substantial control over the government rather than a political clique. [16], Most dictatorships are formed through military means or through a political party. [108], Dictatorship in Europe largely ended after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the liberalization of most communist states. Mao established the People's Republic of China as a one-party communist state under his governing ideology of Maoism. [84] Other nationalist movements in Europe established dictatorships based on the fascist model. In practice, however, many regard it as a dictatorship built around one man, President Vladimir Putin, who has been the leader of the Russian Federation since the year 2000.
Although governing elites in these societies are no longer recruited from a single class, they are often not subjected to effective restraints on the exercise of their power. [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. 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. Unitary Government Examples, Pros & Cons | What is a Unitary Government? However, his presidency came under dispute in 2019. [104] A one-party communist dictatorship was formed in Cuba when a US-backed dictatorship was overthrown in the Cuban Revolution, creating the only Soviet-backed dictatorship in the western hemisphere. . [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. 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. FM to become first Israeli minister in nearly 30 years to visit the closed central Asian dictatorship, an oil-rich state on Iranian border . 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. Thus, the proclamation of emergency rule was the beginning of the dictatorships of Mussolini in Italy, of Kemal Atatrk in Turkey, of Jzef Pisudski in Poland, of Antnio de Olveira Salazar in Portugal, of Franz von Papen and Hitler in Germany, and of Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt von Schuschnigg in Austria. [86] After a brief period of democratization, Latin America underwent a rapid transition toward dictatorship in the 1930s. When the war ended, these countries were incorporated into the Soviet sphere of influence, and the Soviet Union exercised control over their governments. Later 20th-century dictators in Latin America were different. [122] The form of government does not correlate with the amount of economic growth, and dictatorships on average grow at the same rate as democracies, though dictatorships have been found to have larger fluctuations. [2] The inner circle's support is necessary for a dictator's orders to be carried out, causing elites to serve as a check on the dictator's power. 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. Ancient philosophers descriptions of the tyrannies of Greece and Sicily go far toward characterizing modern dictatorships. Dictators use psychological manipulation, imprisonment, torture and murder to intimidate the citizens into complete obedience. He began his rule in 2011 and has been the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.
Dictatorship definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary [50] Monarchies allow for strict rules of succession that produce a peaceful transfer of power on the monarch's death, but this can also result in succession disputes if multiple members of the royal family claim a right to succeed. Meaning of Dictatorship. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you A personalist dictator will manage these appointees by segmenting the government so that they cannot collaborate. The people living in dictatorships are often subjected to human rights abuses and severe limits to their personal freedom. [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. [141], In a dictatorship, violence is used to coerce or repress all opposition to the dictator's rule, and the strength of a dictatorship depends on its use of violence. In its 19th-century form, caudillismo was the result of the breakdown of central authority.
Vladimir Putin's Russia is headed for a military dictatorship - and [46], The shift in the power relation between the dictator and their inner circle has severe consequences for the behavior of such regimes as a whole. As a result, dictatorship became one of the two dominant forms of government utilized by countries. [78], At the same time, nationalist movements grew throughout Europe. [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. 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. [14], Unless they have undertaken a self-coup, those seizing power typically have little governmental experience and do not have a detailed policy plan in advance. dictatorship, form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). totalitarianism, form of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the authority of the state. Absolute monarchs (kings) are another type of ruler with unlimited power. An authoritarian military dictatorship ruled Chile for seventeen years, between 11 September 1973 and 11 March 1990. [15] If the dictator has not seized power through a political party, then a party may be formed as a mechanism to reward supporters and to concentrate power in the hands of political allies instead of militant allies. In some circumstances, monarchies are also considered dictatorships if the monarchs hold a significant amount of political power. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. A dictatorship is a government in which a single person or small group holds all the power, and has absolute authority over politics and the population. In Latin America in the 19th century, various dictators arose after effective central authority had collapsed in the new nations recently freed from Spanish colonial rule.
What is a Dictatorship? Definition, Feature & Characteristics 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 . It often refers to a form of government that has the authority of absolute rule within one person or a structured polity.
Dictatorship - HISTORY CRUNCH - History Articles, Biographies The fascinating story behind many people's favori Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Such elites have typically exercised power to maintain the economic and political status quo. [32], One-party dictatorships became prominent in Asia and Eastern Europe during the Cold War as communist governments were installed in several countries. Summary. 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. [106], The nature of dictatorship changed in much of the world at the onset of the 21st century. The general population has no say in the functioning of the government. These self-proclaimed dictators used private armies to establish control over territories. Current leader Kim Jong-un has consolidated his power, purging . | Examples and Characteristics. The National Liberation Front & People's Army of Vietnam | History, Purpose & Strategy, The Power of the Federal Judiciary: Sources & Consequences, Totalitarian Government | Characteristics & Examples. 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.
16 Pros and Cons of Dictatorship - Vittana.org It was initially aligned with Yugoslavia, but its alignment shifted throughout the Cold War between Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and China.
Dictatorship - Definition, Examples, Cases, Processes - Legal Dictionary Dictatorship can be defined as a form of government in which the power is centralized. Question .
Fakhrul calls on workers to stand against 'dictatorship' 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. Economies based on natural resources allow dictators more power, as they can easily extract rents without strengthening or cooperating with other institutions.
Foreign Minister Cohen heading to Turkmenistan to open embassy 15 miles It has fewer advantages than disadvantages Advantages Low crime rates. Under this system, there are three types of dictatorships. While the People's Republic of China was initially aligned with the Soviet Union, relations between the two countries deteriorated as the Soviet Union underwent de-Stalinization in the late-1950s. 1 : the office of dictator 2 : autocratic rule, control, or leadership people suffering under his dictatorship 3 a : a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique Communism and dictatorship b : a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated Make a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that shows the methods dictators use to control their people. In a dictatorial government, power rests with one supreme ruler. There are three main characteristics of a dictatorship. Kim Jong-un is currently the Supreme Leader of North Korea. Today, dictators do not rise in response to an emergency and the position is not temporary. A dictator is an individual who forms a government where they make decisions without effective constitutional limitations. Think back to what you have previously learned about history. In a dictatorship, a single person, a dictator, has absolute power over the state. Theocracy Overview & Examples | What is Theocracy? A dictatorship is an authoritarian style of government in which one leader has complete control over the country. 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. In cases such as the late Kim Jong-il in North Korea, the ruler is even worshiped as a god. [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. 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. The rigging of elections is just one example of how citizens in a dictatorship have little to no personal freedom. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the people, especially the workers, to stand up against the government. The relations between the countries were strained by Soviet attempts to influence Yugoslavia, leading to the TitoStalin split in 1948. Example: A dictatorship exists when a leader has absolute power that is unchecked by any other branches of government. Dictatorship is an old form of government with origins in ancient Rome. 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. The government was described as a dictatorship of the proletariat in which power was exercised by soviets. 279 lessons. Single-party dictatorships were most common during the Cold War, with dominant-party dictatorships becoming more common after the fall of the Soviet Union. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Direct Democracy Examples in World History | Pros & Cons, What is Constitutional Monarchy? Personalist dictators may be members of the military or leaders of a political party, but neither the military nor the party exercises power independently from the dictator. Most caudillos came from a military background, and their rule was typically associated with pageantry and glamor. The economic focus of a dictatorship often depends on the strength of the opposition, as a weaker opposition allows a dictator to extract additional wealth from the economy through corruption. Dictators are usually backed (especially financially) by groups of powerful people. 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. One of the more dramatic examples of this kind of human rights abuse occurred in Myanmar in 2008. [93] Chiang Kai-shek continued to rule as dictator of the National government's rump state in Taiwan until his death in 1975. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Nglish: Translation of dictatorship for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of dictatorship for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dictatorship. These countries maintain parliaments and human rights organizations, but these remain under the control of the countries' respective dictators. [103], Military dictatorships remained prominent in Latin America during the Cold War, though the number of coups declined starting in the 1980s. 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). 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.
What is a Dictatorship? Examples and Characteristics - Study.com A Roman dictator was a special magistrate that was temporarily appointed by the consul during times of crisis and granted total executive authority. What is a dictatorship? Between 1967 and 1991, 12 Latin American countries underwent at least one military coup, with Haiti and Honduras experiencing three and Bolivia experiencing eight.
Dictatorship News, Research and Analysis - The Conversation Example: The cult of personality often elevates a dictator to divine status. Corrections?
Dictatorship Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster The 20th-century dictatorships in Latin American countries had different aims. After a brief period of constitutional rule, each of the former Spanish colonies in the Americas experienced a collapse of effective national government. Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Difference Between Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, Fascism - ThoughtCo The people do not have any choice with regards to by whom or how their country will be run. A dictator may address the opposition by repressing it through force, modifying laws to restrict its power, or appeasing it with limited benefits. Example: Dictators frequently use psychological manipulation. These nationalist movements supported non-alignment, keeping most Middle Eastern dictatorships out of the American and Soviet spheres of influence. [11][12] He describes totalitarian regimes as exercising control over politics and political mobilization rather than merely suppressing it. [26] Ruling parties in one-party dictatorships are distinct from political parties that were created to serve a dictator in that the ruling party in a one-party dictatorship permeates every level of society. Once in power, the dictators will use fear and violence to stay in office and suppress any opposition. [8], Totalitarianism is a variation of dictatorship characterized by the presence of a single political party and more specifically, by a powerful leader who imposes personal and political prominence. It either lies with a single person or a small group of people. A dictatorship is a type of government in which a single personthe dictatoror party has absolute power. Amy has a master's of library and information science and a master's of arts in history. 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. Similarly, although the 1958 constitution of the Fifth Republic of France contained far-reaching emergency powers conferred on the presidentwhen the institutions of the Republic, the independence of the nation, the integrity of its territory or the fulfillment of its international obligations are threatened with immediate and grave danger, and when the regular functioning of the constitutional authority is interruptedtheir implicit threat to the constitutional order has not been realized. [89] Military coups were also a common occurrence after decolonisation, with 14 African countries experiencing at least three successful military coups between 1959 and 2001. [85] After being defeated in World War II, the far-right dictatorships of Europe collapsed, with the exceptions of Spain and Portugal.
What Is a Dictatorship? - Reference.com Dictatorship or Totalitarianism is a situation where a single person or political party rules the entire country. According to Ford, Dictatorship is the assumption of extra-legal authority by the Head of the State. [75] Lenin was followed by Joseph Stalin in 1924, who consolidated total power and implemented totalitarian rule by 1929. [87], The decolonisation of Africa prompted the creation of new governments, many of which became dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s. [123], The type of economy in a dictatorship can affect how it functions. 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.
Dictatorship - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com [134], Most dictatorships hold elections to maintain legitimacy and stability, but these elections are typically uncompetitive and the opposition is not permitted to win.
Biden finally ready to shift into campaign mode | The Hill 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. They are more likely to end in violence and less likely to democratize than other forms of dictatorship. A dictator is a government leader who rules with unquestioned and unlimited power. The dictator has absolute power.
Dictatorship: Its Types and Reasons | by Old Times - Medium Democracy Types, Principles & Examples | What is Democracy? [127] Foreign intervention takes place when another country seeks to topple a regime by invading the country or supporting the opposition. Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin were the leading examples of such modern totalitarian dictatorships. The demands of industrialization compel recruitment on the basis of skill, merit, and achievement rather than on the basis of inherited social position and wealth. [40] Personalist dictatorships often collapse with the death of the dictator. [35][36] These dictatorships often emerge either from loosely organized seizures of power, giving the leader opportunity to consolidate power, or from democratically elected leaders in countries with weak institutions, giving the leader opportunity to change the constitution. [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. Military dictatorships may be ruled by a single high-ranking military officer or by a group of such officers. Learn a new word every day. [124], Several factors determine the stability of a dictatorship, and they must maintain some degree of popular support to prevent resistance groups from growing. A dictatorship is a form of government in which a person or a small group rules with almost unlimited power. Definition of Dictatorship Noun Absolute, imperious, or haughty power or control. in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and M.Ed. Industrialization produces new, differentiated elites that replace the small leadership groupings that once controlled social, economic, and political power in the society. 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. Opposing a dictator or disobeying the laws in a dictatorship can be punished with extreme violence and even death. Dictatorship. . [143], Institutions that coerce the opposition through the use of violence may serve different roles or they may be used to counterbalance one another in order to prevent one institution from becoming too powerful. Nearly half of dictatorships start as a military coup, though others have been started by foreign intervention, elected officials ending competitive elections, insurgent takeovers, popular uprisings by citizens, or legal maneuvering by autocratic elites to take power within their government. Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of fundamental civil liberties. The dictatorship is opposed to the democratic system of government. 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. Since many of these methods are graphic, it might be best to either use more text in the graphic organizer, or make any drawings look less realistic and more cartoonish. In the new states of Africa and Asia after World War II, dictators quickly established themselves on the ruins of constitutional arrangements inherited from the Western colonial powers that had proved unworkable in the absence of a strong middle class and in the face of local traditions of autocratic rule.
dictatorship - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help All rights reserved. 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. The meaning of dictator is to grant a person absolute or unlimited government power during an emergency. - Definition & Examples, Carl Von Clausewitz: Biography, Theory & Quotes, Small Business Project Management: Planning & Tools, Horizontal Expansion in Business: Definition & Examples, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community.