How to Become a Dictator - Essay Example

Introduction The concept of dictatorship is one that often draws strong condemnation across the whole globe except for a few individuals and their cronies who will be directly benefiting from the system hence their support for the status quo to remain in place. Basically, dictatorship is a form of government in which one person or a small group of people possess absolute power. This study therefore seeks to explore some of the factors which cause the emergence of dictators such as political as well as socio-economic factors and the consequences of dictatorship as briefly outlined below. In some instances it would not be intentional for some leaders to be dictators but the system of governance in their respective countries would confer executive powers on them which leaves no room for their authority and power to be checked by anyone below them. The result would be abuse of this power and in some instances overstaying in power for a very long period would lead some leaders to be dictators as they would wish to amass as much wealth as possible at the expense of the poor majority subjects in their countries. One major notable impact of dictatorship is economic meltdown characterised by loss of production as well as high rates of inflation. Socially this would lead to suffering of the majority of people in a country under dictatorship rule which often causes social upheaval. This study is very significant for students of Politics and International Relations because it highlights their awareness of what a dictator is, describes characteristics and consequences of dictatorship. A hypothesis meant to test these characteristics and also any possible signs of dictatorship in the current world for instance China would be used in carrying out the study. Particular attention would be paid on dictators such as Hitler and Stalin who gained their despotic political powers using different techniques such as terror and general suppression of basic civil liberties. Literature Review Lenins Democracy and Stalins A comprehensive article by Visliniak Mark Foreign Affairs (1997) presents information on the Soviet system without constantly keeping in mind former Premier of Soviet Union Vladimir Ilyich Lenins, psychology. In 1905 Lenin had dreamed and planned a revolution achieved by a minority group of "modern social-democratic Jacobins" or "professional revolutionists," but achieved as a democratic revolution based on the orientation of the Socialists. It was designed from the point of view which had interests of the working class at the expense of others. He held the classical Marxian concept of the Zusammenbruch or breakdown of the capitalist order as a result of the international movement of the working class. Such a movement would be the "Communist Manifesto" of 1848, "a movement of the tremendous majority." Marxism strove to assimilate the principles of democracy with dictatorship and he had an agenda. Socialism or Communism was looked upon as a step which developed out of bourgeois democracy, a fulfilment of democracy which would come in spite of the bourgeoisie. When he arrived in the Russia in 1917, however, Lenin was planning a Socialist revolution, within the framework of democracy if possible. His concept which had come into being during the World War, held that the Socialist transformation of society need not wait for democracy to grow into Socialism. Under such a concept, the dictatorship of the proletariat became a flat negation of bourgeois-democratic oriented principles. Whilst the aim was to destroy capitalism, instead he developed a system which oppressed his own people. Theories of Totalitarianism and modern dictatorships- A tentative Approach In his thesis, Meuschel Sigrid (2000) discusses totalitarian theories with regard to their capacity to interpret in a normatively plausible way such different dictatorships as Nazism, Stalinism and post-Stalinism. In contrast to theoretical approaches which assume all these regimes under a single concept (totalitarianism as total control), it argues in favour of discerning terror and ideology as main characteristics (totalitarianism as extermination). In this case he argues that dictators triumph by instilling fear amongst their subjects. Thus, the focus on National Socialism and Stalinism needs further differentiation for the sake of better understanding. Theories of bureaucratic structures and charismatic domination may help in distinguishing both regimes very particularities as far as dictatorship is concerned. Stalinism and Nazism : dictatorships in comparison The book has its background in comparison of the developments that took place in Germany and Russia during the twentieth century. The authors argue that not every country with weak capitalism produced an equivalent of Stalinism and also that not every country with a vibrant capitalist structure is equivalent to Nazism. However, their failure can be attributed to totalitarianism where the authorities have total control of power. This leadership style in itself is the source of dictatorship since the country would not be able to freely develop under totalitarian rule. Marketing dictatorship: Propaganda and thought Work in Contemporary China In this study the author is arguing that there have been changes in the propaganda system in China in the post Mao era. The Chinese Communist Party is said to be making full use of propaganda to ensure its legitimacy and hold on power. It has structures that monitor all the information disseminated especially using the internet and the propaganda structures are very secretive. Whilst the CCP may argue that they do it in the interest of the people, it can be noted that there is a hidden agenda of clinging to power through the use of propaganda which amounts to dictatorship. However, from the existing literature, it seems there exist a gap of some sort in the information available. The literature reviewed is silent about the extent to which there is direct foreign influence. In some cases, the countries with interests in a particular country are the ones who are very vocal about dictatorship whilst that country’s citizens in some instances may be happy with their government. This study would also try to investigate such state of affairs. Aims and Objectives The major aims of the study involve an investigation of what a dictator is and the causes of dictatorship. The study would also aim to highlight the impacts of dictatorship politically, socially and economically in countries that are directly affected. The major objective is to answer the following main research question as well as other sub questions: What are the main factors that cause leaders to become dictators? What is a dictator? What are the impacts of dictatorship? Are there any measures that can be put to stop dictatorship? Methodology The qualitative research method would be employed to gather data in this study. It will mainly rely with secondary data where published literature about the topic would be collected and analyzed. This method is advantageous in that it aims to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that influence such behavior. This method attempts to investigate the why and how part of decision making process by human beings which is the crux of this study to investigate how people become dictators. Thus, this method is renowned for "telling the story" from the participants viewpoint where he will critically analyse information gathered. Quantitative Research Methods Quantitative research is the systematic scientific investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. In this particular case structured questionnaires can be administered to selected respondents to express their views with regards to their own opinions as far as dictatorship is concerned. References Hyde, H. Montgomery (1971), Stalin: The history of a dictator, Rupert Hart-Davis, London Stalinism and Nazism: Dictatorships in comparison Edited by Ian Kershaw Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. EBSCO Database: Moore, Barrington (1993), 1913-2005. Social origins of dictatorship and democracy: lord and peasant in the making of the modern world: Beacon Press. Haftmann, W (1986). Banned and persecuted: Dictatorship of art under Hitler: Reconstruction. Ehrenberg, John (1992), The dictatorship of the proletariat: Marxisms theory of socialist democracy, Routledge, New York Bobbio, Norberto (1989), 1909-Democracy and dictatorship: The nature and limits of state power, translated by Peter Kennealy, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press. Stalinism and Nazism : dictatorships in comparison / edited by Ian Kershaw a . - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, Retrieved on 08 May 2009, From: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2KXFkhvbkzoC&pg=PR5&dq=Stalinism+and+Nazism+:+dictatorships+in+comparison+/+edited+by+Ian+Kershaw+a+.+-+Cambridge+:+Cambridge+University+Press Anne Marie Brady (2007), Marketing dictatorship: Propaganda and thought Work in Contemporary China retrieved on 08 May 2009 from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uj-1sxeO99kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=dictatorship+in+china&ei=CkIDSvOXCpu8M6KP1IoE#PPR13,M1 Read More