A dictatorship is a government regime in which the concentration of power and decisions in one person or in a group. It's a government regime anti-democracy where citizen participation does not exist, with all government power concentrated in the dictator's interests.
A dictatorship is a form of government that has cruel consequences for the people and for the country, mainly due to excessive control over citizens and the violation of human rights.
Military dictatorship
In a military dictatorship, the concentration of political power is located in the hands of groups formed by the military.
In most dictatorships of this type, the rise of the military to government takes place through a coup d'état. A coup occurs when a group manages to remove the government that legitimately occupied it from power.
However, this blow does not necessarily happen through violent means. For example, the approval of a change in the law that allows the removal of the government from power is also a form of coup d'état and, in this case, the coup does not happen through violence. This situation is less common, but it can happen that a dictator comes to power through a process. with characteristics of democracy, only demonstrating its dictatorial nuances after assuming the power.
It is important to know that the coup is named because it is a sudden change that hits the government legitimate person who occupied the position so far.
Characteristics of a dictatorship
Dictatorial regimes, although they are different from each other, have some characteristics in common.
The main feature is the concentration of power, which can be in the hands of a person or a group. Alongside this, there is a disrespect for the separation of the State Powers (Legislative, Executive and Judiciary), and decisions related to these Powers are also taken by the dictator. In a democratic regime, the functions of each of the Powers are respected, as well as the separation between them.
Another common feature of dictatorships is the existence of censorship, which is mainly used to prevent people who disagree with the regime from having the means to express their opinions.
Censorship is one of the most striking features of a dictatorship.
In addition to banning citizens' freedom of expression, some dictatorial regimes also censor the media and the internet to prevent citizens from being informed. This measure is used to prevent the population from developing a critical conscience that allows them to criticize the regime.
To learn more read the article characteristics of military dictatorships.
Are there civil, socialist and communist dictatorships?
There is talk of the existence of a civil (or civil-military), socialist or communist dictatorship. But do these types of dictatorships really exist?
There are those who defend the existence of a civil-military dictatorship based on the justification that a dictatorship, however cruel it may be, can count on the participation of members or organizations of the civil society.
However, it is important to clarify that civil dictatorship is an inappropriate term. An example of this case is the dictatorship that existed in Brazil between 1964 and 1985. Although it had the complicity of some citizens or members of civil society, it was a government exercised and supported by the Armed Forces. Thus, the Brazilian dictatorship was a military dictatorship.
Venezuela is another example. The country has been under the leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela since 1999, when Hugo Chávez took over the presidency. The government has some characteristics of a dictatorial government, even if it is based on socialism.
Some people refer to the government of this country as a "Bolivarian" or socialist dictatorship, but this classification is not correct either. Thus, despite some authoritarian measures, it is not appropriate to identify the Venezuelan government as a dictatorship.
The difference between socialism, communism and dictatorship
It is not possible to confuse a regime with socialist or communist bases with a dictatorship, even if some of these regimes have certain dictatorial characteristics. So, to end this confusion it is necessary to know the basis of these theories.
It is also necessary to remember that many countries may not live under democratic regimes, but that does not make them automatically classified as countries under dictatorship. Cuba is a good example of this situation as it is a non-democratic country that lives in a government classified as communist.
Know more about Socialism, Communism and see the differences between them.
Right-wing dictatorship and left-wing dictatorship
It is interesting to know that any political regime, whether of right-wing or left-wing ideology, depending on the decisions taken by the government, can become a dictatorship.
Thus, right-wing dictatorships and left-wing dictatorships have already existed in history. See some examples of countries that have been under dictatorial governments:
right-wing dictatorships
- Italy
- Portugal
- Germany
- Spain
left dictatorships
- Soviet Union
- Cuba
- North Korea
- Cambodia
Dictatorships that currently exist
Currently there are some countries that live governments considered dictatorial. Some are in fact under a dictatorship, others, although not defined as such, have typical characteristics of this type of regime.
According to data published in 2018 by Freedom House, an American organization for the protection of human rights, today there are 49 countries that live under governments with characteristics of a dictatorship.
Angola, North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe these are examples of countries where governments tend to act with a lot of repression, violence and control over the population. Disrespect and violation of human rights is also very common in these governments.
Cuba and China are examples of countries that are not officially dictatorships. Cuba lives under a communist regime and China is a People's Republic. However, in these two countries there is control over freedom of expression and the press, as well as persecution of people who oppose the government.
the dictators
Dictators, even though they are different people, usually have some characteristics in common, especially in relation to the way they act, their speeches, the historical moment in which they arise and the emotional appeal they generate in the population.
Many of the dictators that emerged in the world had a strong charismatic appeal and managed to gain support from the citizens by this influence, managing to introduce their ideas through the sympathy they gained with the people.
It is common for the dictator to be able to establish a connection with his ruled, making them feel that there is an identification between them. adolf hitler and Joseph Stalin, for example, are considered by many historians as extremely influential dictators, who exercised a certain fascination about citizens, despite the cruel practices they were able to commit during their governments.
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), German dictator and Josef Stalin (1878-1953), Russian dictator.
Another point in common with many dictators is the historical moment in which they emerge. Many dictators are known by the population in times of crisis, especially in economic crises. Taking advantage of this moment and using the identification with the population, they ended up being considered as the best way out of the crisis.
Dictators are also often ardent supporters of moral values important to many people, such as defending traditional family values, faith and extreme love for their country, the nationalism.
Differences between dictatorship and democracy
dictatorship and democracy are opposite regimes. In the dictatorship, the participation of the people does not exist and decisions are imposed by the government, in a very authoritarian way. The needs and wants of the people are not taken into account. Or else, the dictator says that he knows what is best for the population and therefore he decides everything.
Furthermore, in a dictatorship there are no direct elections, human rights are easily violated, and censorship of citizens and the press is a common practice.
In democracy, on the other hand, popular participation is the basis of the regime, decisions are taken by the people and in their favor, considering the needs and benefits that should be directed to the citizens.
In a democratic regime, elections are free, human rights are protected and censorship does not exist, with respect for citizens' freedom of expression.
Read too: Dictatorship, Military dictatorship, Difference between democracy and dictatorship and Coup d'etat.
