Dictatorship facts for kids
A dictatorship is a type of government where one leader, or a small group of leaders, has almost all the power. This leader is called a dictator. In a dictatorship, the dictator controls politics with help from a small group of important people like advisors or generals. They stay in power by keeping these important people happy and by stopping anyone who disagrees with them. This might include other political groups or even people within their own circle.
Dictatorships can start when a military group takes over the government by force (a military coup). Sometimes, an elected leader might change the rules to stay in power forever (a self-coup). Dictatorships are often authoritarian, meaning they have strict control over people's lives. They can be military dictatorships, one-party dictatorships, or personalist dictatorships.
The word dictator comes from ancient Rome. It meant a temporary leader given special powers during an emergency. Modern dictatorships became common in the 19th and 20th centuries. They often limit what people can say or think to keep control. They also use propaganda to promote their ideas and reduce the influence of other systems. In the 20th century, fascist and communist dictatorships rose in Europe. After World War II, communism spread, lasting until the end of the Cold War in 1991. Personalist and military dictatorships also became common in Africa and Latin America.
After the Soviet Union ended in 1991, many countries became democracies. However, some dictatorships still exist today, especially in Africa and Asia. In the early 2000s, democracies were more common than authoritarian states. But by 2019, the number of authoritarian governments had grown again.
Dictatorships often pretend to be democratic. They might hold elections to seem legitimate, but these elections are not fair. People who oppose the dictator usually cannot win. Dictatorships stay stable through coercion (forcing people) and political repression (stopping people from speaking out). This includes limiting information and watching opponents. If a dictatorship cannot stop its opponents, it might fall due to a coup or a revolution.
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How Dictatorships Work
The way power works in dictatorships can be different. Political experts look for key things that define a dictatorship's power structure. These include having one leader or a small group, using power with few limits, and having limited political choices for people.
The dictator usually has most or all the power over the government and society. But sometimes, a group of important people, called elites, helps the dictator rule. These elites form an inner circle. They have some power and get benefits for supporting the dictator. They might be military officers, party members, or even friends and family of the dictator.
These elites can also be a threat to the dictator. They might use their power to influence or even overthrow the dictatorship. The dictator needs their support to carry out orders. So, elites can act as a check on the dictator's power. To make new rules, a dictator must either keep the elites happy or try to replace them. Elites also compete for more power among themselves. If the elites are divided, the dictator has more power. But if they are united, they can challenge the dictator, especially if they are military officers who can organize a coup.
People who do not support the dictatorship are called the opposition. If this opposition is organized, it can threaten the dictatorship's stability. It tries to make people stop supporting the dictator and calls for a change in government. A dictator might deal with the opposition by using force, changing laws to limit their power, or offering them small benefits. The opposition can be outside the government or include current and former members of the dictator's inner circle.
Some dictatorships are called totalitarian. These have a single political party and a very powerful leader who controls almost everything. The government and a strong set of ideas work together to enforce power. A totalitarian government controls all communication, social groups, and economic activities. It tries to organize the entire society based on its ideas.
How Dictatorships Start
A dictatorship begins when a specific group takes control of the government. How they take power and how they rule depends on who is in this group. It could be military people or political groups, and they might be organized or not. After taking power, this group decides who gets which jobs in the new government. Sometimes, this causes disagreements within the group. The people who helped seize power often become the elites in the dictator's inner circle. However, the dictator might remove them later to gain even more power.
Unless a leader takes power by changing the rules while already in office (a self-coup), those who seize power often don't have much government experience. They might not have a detailed plan for how to rule. If the dictator didn't take power through a political party, they might create one. This party helps reward supporters and gives power to political allies instead of military ones. Parties formed after a takeover often have little real influence and mainly serve the dictator.
Most dictatorships start through military action or a political party. Nearly half begin with a military coup, where the military overthrows the existing government. Others start through foreign help, elected leaders stopping fair elections, rebel groups taking over, or citizens rising up. Many also developed after periods of chaos or fighting.
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Different Kinds of Dictatorships
Experts classify dictatorships based on where the power truly lies. There are three main types:
- Military dictatorships are controlled by military officers.
- One-party dictatorships are controlled by the leaders of a single political party.
- Personalist dictatorships are controlled by one single person.
Sometimes, a dictatorship can be a mix of these types.
Military Dictatorships
In a military dictatorship, military officers hold the power. They decide who leads the country and influence government decisions. These are common in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They can be unstable and often last only about five years. However, one military dictatorship might be followed by another.
Military dictatorships usually start with a military coup. Senior officers use the military to overthrow the government. This can happen when a country is new to democracy or when the military feels powerful. Military dictators often see themselves as protectors of the country. Because of their military training, they might be more likely to use force as a political tool. They might also be less trusting and less likely to compromise.
One-Party Dictatorships
One-party dictatorships are governments where a single political party controls everything. In some, only the ruling party is allowed, and all other parties are banned. In others, opposition parties might exist on paper but have no real power. These were very common during the Cold War. After the Soviet Union fell, dominant-party dictatorships (where opposition exists but can't win) became more common. The ruling party in these dictatorships is deeply involved in all parts of society.
One-party dictatorships tend to be more stable than other types of authoritarian rule. They are less likely to face rebellions and often see better economic growth. The ruling party helps influence many people and keeps agreement among the party's important members. These dictatorships are less likely to have civil conflicts or terrorism. They also give more legitimacy to their leaders and can help with peaceful transfers of power when a dictator's rule ends.
Many one-party dictatorships, especially communist ones, became common in Asia and Eastern Europe during the Cold War. Several African countries also developed one-party rule after gaining independence in the 1960s and 1970s. The ruling party can follow any idea or no idea at all.
Personalist Dictatorships
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Personalist dictatorships are governments where one person holds all the power. The dictator has great control over important government jobs and money. Even if the dictator is from the military or a political party, neither the military nor the party acts independently. In these dictatorships, the important people around the dictator are usually close friends or family. The dictator often chooses these individuals personally. These dictatorships often start when a leader takes power in a disorganized way, allowing them to gather all power. They can also emerge when elected leaders in countries with weak rules change the constitution to stay in power. They are more common in parts of Africa where institutions are less established. There has been an increase in personalist dictatorships since the Cold War ended.
Personalist dictators often prefer loyalty over skill in their government. They might not trust educated people. The elites in these dictatorships often don't have professional political experience and might not be qualified for their jobs. A personalist dictator keeps government parts separate so that officials cannot work together against them. This means there are no internal checks and balances, allowing the dictator to be very strict with people, make sudden changes in foreign policy, or start wars. Because there is less accountability and a smaller group of elites, personalist dictatorships are more likely to have corruption and be more repressive. They often end when the dictator dies. They are also more likely to end violently and less likely to become democracies.
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In personalist regimes, dictators rely heavily on controlling the public to stay in power. This can make people pretend to support the leader, so the dictator doesn't truly know what people think. This can lead to problems like false information, internal political issues, and limits on freedom of the press. Dictators might use their power to change election results. Many personalist regimes use open voting and strict security to protect their rule. They also censor those who disagree with the leader.
These regimes can last a long time, often twice as long as military dictatorships, but not as long as one-party dictatorships. They also struggle with economic growth because they often lack strong institutions or skilled leaders to manage the economy.
A Look at History
Early Dictatorships
The idea of a "dictator" first appeared in the Roman Republic. A Roman dictator was a special official chosen temporarily during emergencies. They had total power to restore order. This role was meant to be short-lived. Later, figures like Julius Caesar became dictators for life, which helped lead to the Roman Empire. In other parts of the world, military rulers also appeared, such as the Shoguns who effectively ruled Japan for over six hundred years.
Dictatorships in the 20th Century
Dictatorships became a major form of government in the 19th and 20th centuries. After World War I, many dictatorships emerged in Europe, including fascist and communist governments. These governments used strong control and promoted their ideas widely. In Latin America, leaders known as caudillos (personalist dictators, often from military backgrounds) became common. During the Cold War (after World War II), communist dictatorships spread to Eastern Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Many African countries also saw the rise of military and one-party dictatorships after gaining independence.
Dictatorships Today (21st Century)
After the Soviet Union fell in 1991, many countries became more democratic. However, some dictatorships continued into the 21st century. Today, many dictators try to appear more modern and positive to gain public support. Instead of just using terror, some use technology and control information to stay in power. They might manipulate social media, censor the internet, and spread false information.
How Dictatorships Affect Money and Power
Most dictatorships are found in countries with a lot of poverty. Poverty can make governments unstable, causing democracies to fail and regimes to fall more often. The type of government doesn't always decide how much the economy grows. Dictatorships, on average, grow at a similar rate to democracies, but their economies can have bigger ups and downs. Dictators are more likely to invest in their country's economy if they feel secure in their power. Some exceptions to poverty in dictatorships include oil-rich countries in the Middle East and some fast-growing Asian countries during their periods of dictatorship.
The type of economy can also affect how a dictatorship works. If a country has many natural resources, like oil, dictators can easily get wealth from them. This can give them more power without needing to work with other groups. More complex economies usually require the dictator to cooperate more with different groups. If the opposition is weak, a dictator might take more wealth from the economy through corruption.
Staying in Power and Why Dictatorships Fall
Many things affect how stable a dictatorship is. Dictators need some public support to stop resistance groups from growing. They might offer rewards, like money or safety. Or they might use political repression, punishing anyone who doesn't support them. Stability can weaken if opposition groups grow and unite, or if important elites are not loyal. One-party dictatorships are generally more stable and last longer than military or personalist ones.
A dictatorship can fall in several ways:
- A military coup happens when the military overthrows the government.
- Foreign intervention occurs when another country tries to remove a dictator.
- A dictator might negotiate an end to their rule if they have lost support.
- A revolution happens when a large opposition group becomes too strong to stop.
Negotiated endings often lead to democracy. Endings by force often result in a new dictatorship. Dictators with great power are more likely to be exiled, imprisoned, or killed if removed. So, they often refuse to negotiate and cling to power.
Dictatorships are often more aggressive in conflicts with other nations. This is because dictators don't worry about losing elections due to war. Military dictatorships are more prone to conflict due to their strength. Personalist dictatorships are also more prone to conflict due to weaker systems to limit the dictator's power. In the 21st century, dictatorships often try to seem more democratic and work more with other countries. They sometimes receive foreign aid if they promise to move towards democracy.
Elections in Dictatorships
Most dictatorships hold elections to appear legitimate and stable. However, these elections are usually not fair, and the opposition is not allowed to win. Elections allow dictatorships to control the opposition by setting rules for challenges. They also use elections to manage elites within the dictatorship. Elites must compete and build public support.
Elections also help make a dictatorship seem democratic. This provides an excuse for the public and other countries. If a dictatorship fails, elections can allow dictators and elites to accept defeat without fearing violence. Dictatorships can influence election results through electoral fraud, scaring or bribing voters, using government resources, changing election laws, or stopping certain candidates or groups from voting.
In the 20th century, most dictatorships only allowed voters to support the ruling party. Since the Cold War ended, more dictatorships hold "semi-competitive" elections. In these, opposition parties can participate but are not allowed to win. About two-thirds of dictatorships allowed opposition candidates in 2018. Opposition parties might be limited by not being allowed to campaign or by banning popular parties. These elections can help dictatorships get foreign aid or show the dictator's control.
Famous Dictators in History
Here are some well-known dictators from history:
- Adolf Hitler - Germany
- Benito Mussolini - Italy
- Francisco Franco - Spain
- Augusto Pinochet - Chile
- Joseph Stalin - U.S.S.R
- Kim Jong-il - North Korea
- Muammar al-Gaddafi - Libya
- Bashar al-Assad - Syria
- Idi Amin - Uganda
Images for kids
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Citizens of North Korea bow to statues of former dictators Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in 2012.
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King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia with two of his sons in 1953.
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A communist rally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the country's period of Marxist dictatorship, the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
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Nicolae Ceaușescu (left) attending a stage event with Hafiz al-Assad (right), during his state visit to Ba'athist dictatorship of Syria
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Meeting between Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko in 2003
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Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire's longtime dictator.
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Ferdinand Marcos (pictured with his wife Imelda), a Philippine dictator.
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Nicolae Ceaușescu (left) meeting with Hafez al-Assad (right) in Syria, 1974.
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Spanish dictator Francisco Franco with Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, 1954.
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In Spanish: Dictadura para niños
- Benevolent dictatorship
- Constitutional dictatorship
- Despotism
- Elective dictatorship
- Generalissimo
- List of cults of personality
- List of titles used by dictators
- List of totalitarian regimes
- Maximum Leader (disambiguation)
- People's democratic dictatorship
- Strongman
- Supreme Leader (disambiguation)
- Regime change in autocracies
