Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. [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. [139] Since the end of the Cold War, more dictatorships have established "semi-competitive" elections in which opposition is allowed to participate in elections but is not allowed to win, with approximately two-thirds of dictatorships permitting opposition candidates in 2018. Most caudillos came from a military background, and their rule was typically associated with pageantry and glamor. [27] One-party rule also developed in several countries in Africa during decolonization in the 1960s and 1970s, some of which produced authoritarian regimes. 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. Send us feedback about these examples. 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. In military dictatorships, it is the military that exerts complete or substantial control over the government rather than a political clique. The earliest military dictatorships developed in the post-classical era, particularly in Shogun-era Japan and in England under Cromwell. [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. 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. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives at a government . 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. [124], Several factors determine the stability of a dictatorship, and they must maintain some degree of popular support to prevent resistance groups from growing. [56] Caesar subverted the tradition of temporary dictatorships when he was made dictator perpetuo, or a dictator for life, which led to the creation of the Roman Empire. In other democracies, however, constitutional arrangements have survived quite lengthy periods of crisis government. 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. With constitutional democracy, it is one of the two chief forms of government in use today. Elites are also the primary political threats of a dictator, as they can leverage their power to influence or overthrow the dictatorship. The 20th-century dictatorships in Latin American countries had different aims. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples 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. What is a dictatorship? [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. [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. Monarchy Lesson for Kids: Definition & Facts, Nigeria's Dictators & Their Impact on the Country. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. List Of Dictatorship Countries & Countries Ruled by Dictator - Ranker dictatorship, form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. Dominant-party dictatorships or electoral authoritarian dictatorships are one-party dictatorships in which opposition parties are nominally legal but cannot meaningfully influence government. 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. 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. [22], Military dictatorships are typically formed by a military coup in which senior officers use the military to overthrow the government. 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. Political system - Dictatorship | Britannica Ancient philosophers descriptions of the tyrannies of Greece and Sicily go far toward characterizing modern dictatorships. [11][12] He describes totalitarian regimes as exercising control over politics and political mobilization rather than merely suppressing it. A dictatorship is a form of government where one person, or a small group of individuals, can make decisions without effective constitutional limitations. Mao established the People's Republic of China as a one-party communist state under his governing ideology of Maoism. Semi-competitive elections also have the effect of incentivizing members of the ruling party to provide better treatment of citizens so they will be chosen as party nominees due to their popularity. The question for many constitutional regimes is whether the limitation and balance of power that are at the heart of constitutional government can survive the growing enlargement of executive power. [60] During the L dynasty of Vietnam between the 16th and 18th centuries, the country was under de facto military rule by two rival military families: the Trnh lords in the north and the Nguyn lords in the south. 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. 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. Indeed, the 20th century, which witnessed the careers of Atatrk, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Francisco Franco, Mao Tse-tung, Juan Pern, Tito, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sukarno, Kwame Nkrumah, and Charles de Gaulle, could appear in history as the age of plebiscitary dictatorship. The other was a constitutional democracy. They seize power to benefit themselves, their families and their close political allies. The 69-year-old leader, who has sought to dispel concerns about his health weeks before a crucial election, has canceled several campaign stops. [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. Stability can be weakened when opposition groups grow and unify or when elites are not loyal to the regime. Dictatorship. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. | Examples and Characteristics. 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. 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. They may also employ techniques of mass propaganda in order to sustain their public support. Amy has a master's of library and information science and a master's of arts in history. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Parties that take power through violence are often able to implement larger changes in a shorter period of time. D.C.'s favorite parlor game is coming to an end. In democracies, the threat of a military coup is associated with the period immediately after a democracy's creation but prior to large-scale military reforms. Democracy, Monarchy and Dictatorship: Types of Government Systems The ruler of a dictatorship is called a dictator. [74] The Bolsheviks consolidated power by 1922, forming the Soviet Union. Forms of Government: Definition & Types | StudySmarter Politics in a dictatorship are controlled by the dictator and they are facilitated through an inner circle of elites that includes advisers, generals, and other high-ranking officials. In the Roman Republic, the title "dictator" was temporarily given to an individual to deal with state crises and emergencies. A military dictatorship is a form of government in which the military holds most or all political power. 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. [32], One-party dictatorships became prominent in Asia and Eastern Europe during the Cold War as communist governments were installed in several countries. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. [131], Dictatorships are typically more aggressive than democracy when in conflict with other nations, as dictators do not have to fear electoral costs of war. They differ from other forms of dictatorships in that the dictator has greater access to key political positions and the government's treasury, and they are more commonly subject to the discretion of the dictator. The dictator maintains control by influencing and appeasing the inner circle and repressing any opposition, which may include rival political parties, armed resistance, or disloyal members of the dictator's inner circle. - Definition & Examples, Probationary Period of Employment: Policy & Termination, Historical Cost: Definition, Principle & Advantages, What is Strategic Sourcing? Most dictatorship countries do not refer to their leader as a dictator, but rather as kings, presidents, prime ministers, etc. By contrast, dictators take power by force or by misleading the people. dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dicttra. 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. [140] Opposition parties in dictatorships may be restricted by preventing them from campaigning, banning more popular opposition parties, preventing opposition members from forming a party, or requiring that candidates be a member of the ruling party. As the Cold War went on, the Soviet Union increased its influence in Africa, and MarxistLeninist dictatorships developed in several African countries. [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. [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 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. [54][55] The concept of "dictator" was first developed during the Roman Republic. Example: Dictators frequently use psychological manipulation. . What Makes a Ruler a Dictator? Definition and List of Dictators - ThoughtCo 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. [136] Should a dictatorship fail, elections also permit dictators and elites to accept defeat without fearing violent recourse. 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 . That's because there's no other branch of government that is not controlled by the dictator. 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. An authoritarian military dictatorship ruled Chile for seventeen years, between 11 September 1973 and 11 March 1990. [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. FM to become first Israeli minister in nearly 30 years to visit the closed central Asian dictatorship, an oil-rich state on Iranian border . [135] Elections are also used to control elites within the dictatorship by requiring them to compete with one another and incentivizing them to build support with the populace, allowing the most popular and most competent elites to be promoted in the regime. Many personalist regimes will install open ballots to protect their regimes and implement heavy security measures and censorship for those whose personal preferences do not align with the values of the leader. Make a list of at least four leaders from world history that could be considered dictators. [132] In the 21st century, dictatorships have moved toward greater integration with the global community and increasingly attempt to present themselves as democratic. Create your account. A cult of personality often surrounds a dictator, driven by myths - typically perpetuated by the government-controlled media - about the ruler that are designed to build him up in the minds of the citizens as an all-knowing divine being who is the only one capable of bringing prosperity to the nation. More complex economies require additional cooperation between the dictator and other groups. 279 lessons. After a brief period of constitutional rule, each of the former Spanish colonies in the Americas experienced a collapse of effective national government. [16], Most dictatorships are formed through military means or through a political party. 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. [87], The decolonisation of Africa prompted the creation of new governments, many of which became dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s. [18], A classification of dictatorships, which began with political scientist Barbara Geddes in 1999, focuses on where power lies. Later 20th-century dictators in Latin America were different. Example: A dictatorship exists when a leader has absolute power that is unchecked by any other branches of government. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke out in support of the Israeli judicial reform protests in a video that was screened at the anti-judicial reform demonstrations in Tel Aviv on Saturday . Totalitarianism is a type of governmental system in which the government exerts a domineering level of control over the population. [92] Deng Xiaoping took power as the de facto leader of China after Mao's death and implemented reforms to restore stability following the Cultural Revolution and reestablish free market economics. Dictatorship means that system of Government which rests on a single person and that is of high authoritarianism. Early African dictatorships were primarily personalist socialist dictatorships, in which a single socialist would take power instead of a ruling party. [61] In Europe, the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell, formed in 1649 after the Second English Civil War, has been described as a military dictatorship by its contemporary opponents and by some modern academics. Mao consolidated his control of the People's Republic of China with the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, which involved the destruction of all elements of capitalism and traditionalism in China. Omissions? Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. Direct Democracy Examples in World History | Pros & Cons, What is Constitutional Monarchy? [97], The Middle East was decolonized during the Cold War, and many nationalist movements gained strength post-independence. Parties formed after the seizure of power often have little influence and only exist to serve the dictator. Dictatorship - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com This violence is frequently exercised through institutions such as military or police forces. Such elites have typically exercised power to maintain the economic and political status quo. Modern dictators, however, resemble ancient tyrants rather than ancient dictators. I feel like its a lifeline. However, over the years, these governments evolved into national leaders and were put in their position of power by nationalistic military officers. Putin's Russia is headed for a military dictatorship - and total collapse. The group may be military or political, it may be organized or disorganized, and it may disproportionately represent a certain demographic. [86] After a brief period of democratization, Latin America underwent a rapid transition toward dictatorship in the 1930s. In a dictatorship, the dictator has. 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. [140] Dictatorships may hold semi-competitive elections to qualify for foreign aid, to demonstrate a dictator's control over the government, or to incentivize the party to expand its information-gathering capacity, particularly at the local level. 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. 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. [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. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Totalitarian Countries 2023 - worldpopulationreview.com Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In a dictatorship, the dictator has absolute power. 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. [79] Fascism developed in Europe as a rejection of liberalism, socialism, and modernism, and the first fascist political parties formed in the 1920s. Although similar in some respects to the dictatorships of the new countries, the caudillos of 19th- and 20th-century Latin America represented a very different type of monocratic rule. [19], Military dictatorships are regimes in which military officers hold power, determine who will lead the country, and exercise influence over policy. To be considered a dictatorship means that a country is known to be run by one person without any checks and balances on his power. [44] As a result of authoritarian politics, a series of major issues may ensue. dictatorship - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church. Make a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that shows the methods dictators use to control their people. 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. [80] Italian dictator Benito Mussolini seized power in 1922, and began implementing reforms in 1925 to create the first fascist dictatorship. 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. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the people, especially the workers, to stand up against the government. Hours after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaid landed in Miami after being thrown out of Colombia, I talked with him extensively about Colombian President Gustavo Petro's initiative to . Theocracy Overview & Examples | What is Theocracy? [51] In the modern era, absolute monarchies are most common in the Middle East. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Phoenix. [47] Personalist dictatorships also experience growth differently, as they often lack the institutions or qualified leadership to sustain an economy. Western constitutional democracies have provided examples of another type of contemporary dictatorship. Dictatorship | Definition, Characteristics, Countries, & Facts Totalitarianism | Definition, Characteristics, Examples, & Facts Displaying 1 - 20 of 68 articles. [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. Dictators use psychological manipulation, imprisonment, torture and murder to intimidate the citizens into complete obedience. Corrections? The rights of the people are typically suppressed in a dictatorship, sometimes to a great degree. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. A dictatorship is a form of government, where one person effectively has all the power to run a country. 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. [78], At the same time, nationalist movements grew throughout Europe. [143], Terrorism is less common in dictatorships. Learn the definition of a dictatorship and its main characteristics. Dictatorship Countries 2023 - worldpopulationreview.com 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 There are no checks and balances of power that these leaders need to conform to. A totalitarian government has "total control of mass communications and social and economic organizations". [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. Many are noted for their cruelty, while others are honored as national heroes. [26], A dictatorship may fall because of a military coup, foreign intervention, negotiation, or popular revolution. The growing complexity of modern society and its government thrusts ever greater power into the hands of administrators and committees of experts. A dictatorship is a form of government in which a person or a small group rules with almost unlimited power. Secret police are used to gather information about specific political opponents and carry out targeted acts of violence against them, paramilitary forces defend the regime from coups, and formal militaries defend the dictatorship during foreign invasions and major civil conflicts. Dictatorship is an old form of government with origins in ancient Rome. [25], One-party dictatorships are governments in which a single political party dominates politics. It either lies with a single person or a small group of people. What Is a Dictatorship? - Reference.com Fakhrul calls on workers to stand against 'dictatorship' It does not involve any electoral process for the appointment. 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.