The common denominators of dictators
Their
ability to sell ‘imaginary
enemies’ to
the masses.
To
ward off the anger of the masses resulting from spiralling prices,
wars and hunger, a dictator needs imaginary enemies so that he is not
held accountable for all the ills that have gotten hold of the land
and the burden of blame falls on the heads of those he paints off as
enemies of the state. Imaginary enemies also serve another great
purpose, they cement his hold over the country as he is the only
person who has what it takes to defeat such devious and calculating
groups. The nation rises beyond religious/ethnic lines and stands
united in the supreme leader’s fight against such beastly people.
There are no other greater loyalties, there's only one idea you bend
your knee to, the leader of the nation, and fight his wars, die for
him and be hailed as a martyr who went down fighting the enemy.
All this war-mongering results from the hysteria that is generated
over the imaginary enemies by the state media, if the imaginary
enemies are not checked fast enough, they will destroy your land,
your culture and enslave your women and your kids. So it is they who
become the number one priority for the common folk, healthcare and
affordable housing can wait.
Almost
every failed land and people have had their moments in the past. If
there are no moments, then you create them. Lost wars can be brushed
as heroic last stands for example. This serves a purpose, since the
present and the immediate future of your people stands bleak, you
need to provide some sort of plank in time they can look up to and
aspire to reach, this keeps the masses satisfied and curbs their
anger and hopelessness over the hardships they face on a regular
basis. You
also re-write history to generate animosity amongst the masses, you
insert the ‘imaginary enemies’ and their ‘betrayals’ to the
people in the past and exhort your people to avenge the historical
wrongs. If there’s present a historical tyrant from the hated group
then you highlight him all around to show your people what these
beasts are capable of when they hold the sceptres of power in their
hands and if they have had a historical hero in their ranks then you
pall his achievements with downright lies and pull him off the
pedestal people have erected him upon.
Control
the past, and you control the future.
Dictators
either control the military directly or tie it down in a tight
leash.
The
spy agencies, better known as the secret police work a lot harder
inside the country than outside in a dictatorship, though this is not
a norm but it is noticeable. The last thing a dictator needs is
active dissent and since he more concerned about his power than
general welfare, the state resources are pumped to erect a home
surveillance apparatus.
All
Dictators have either had the support of the masses, or the support
of the few with some clout (military, business classes, dominant
ethnic group, etc.) in the initial stage of their reign. The masses
need not be of the majority, but can be on tribal loyalties.
Once
their power is consolidated, steps are taken to ensure that it stays
so, generally through shows of force, and purges of some of the
elites. Some means of surveillance is set up, with an illusion of
omniscience and brutality (the latter is real) to discourage dissent
and revolts.
All
Dictators have either had the support of the masses, or the support
of the few with some clout (military, business classes, dominant
ethnic group, etc.) in the initial stage of their reign. The masses
need not be of the majority, but can be on tribal loyalties.
Once
their power is consolidated, steps are taken to ensure that it stays
so, generally through shows of force, and purges of some of the
elites. Some means of surveillance is set up, with an illusion of
omniscience and brutality (the latter is real) to discourage dissent
and revolts.
Dictators
spring up in times of instability and dissatisfaction, and the only
way they can hope to stay relevant and in power, is by militarization
and mass mobilization using the fear of a common enemy of the
existential sort, one where survival is at stake, where fear
dominates, instead of the more dreary issues of hunger and
unemployment.
Such
issues are used to justify their reign, and continual support ensues.
The
main problem faced by dictators (barring their mortality) is that
they can’t hope to stay on, or stay alive unless they do all or
some of the above, but that ensures the beginnings of dissatisfaction
and future revolt. Only in a few cases has there been a relatively
smooth transition of power.
The
first victims to any dictatorship apart from political opponents, are
intellectuals and free thinkers. A dictator needs a dumbed down
citizenry to rule and writers, free thinkers etc often act as a
catalyst in building of an intellectual society, they are the
carriers of contagious ideas that must not be allowed to spread.
That's also one reason as to why a large number of books and movies
get censored in a dictatorship.
They
have, the following in common.
1)
They successfully instill an insane irratonal fear in those who
would be thier subjects. They must NEVER let up, unease must ooze
from them. The people must always wonder, “Am I next?”
2)
They must have parallel lines of terror. These lines must terrorize
each other, as well as the subjects. They must also jostle for
supremacy.
3)
The tyrant must have expanding and contracting circle of sycophants.
The circle expands and contracts due to purges and additions.
4)
The tyrant must be convinced of his genius. Hitler served as a
message runner in the trenches during the WW1 , Yet he thought
himself to being a military genius.
5)
The tyrant must have instruments of coercion, i.e., secret police
and prisons, known for torture and lingering death.
6)
He must have written books and/or phamplets that showcase his
genius. Said writings must be required reading, and if need be
memorized.
Dictators
have in common arre:
Megalomania:
They are narcissists and megalomaniacs. They cannot think beyond
themselves and cannot value anybody or anyone’s opinion above
themselves.
Oratory
/ Ability to mesmerise the masses: Hitler
anfd Mussolini were fabulous rabble rouser who could sway
thousands.
A
small coterie around them that
keeps them divorced from reality as time passes. The coterie is often
one that has profited from the dictator’s rule. It is in their
interest to keep the Dictator happy. Which means shielding them from
the truth of how much the people may despise them.
Dictators
want it done their
way,
not necessarily like the law, courts or legislatures want it done.
They also merge or control the legislative and judiciary with the
executive branch of the government with force to ensure absolute
control.
The
dictators, their families, friends and supporters do much better than
others during the dictatorship.
Dictators
must use force, repression, propaganda and constant vigilance to
preserve their dictatorships.
Dictators
live in fear for their lives or are greatly concerned with their own
safety and security.
Most
of them come to a sticky end: Karma
is a bitch. Dictators
either killed in an uprising
or
by their own hand or are
forced to flee in exile. Not many cases of dictators being dealt with
in International Courts.
