Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church. [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. In many cases, of course, such provisions have been the instruments with which dictators have overthrown the regime. There are no checks and balances of power that these leaders need to conform to. Many others developed following a period of warlordism. Democracy Features & Examples | What is a Democratic Country? [85] After being defeated in World War II, the far-right dictatorships of Europe collapsed, with the exceptions of Spain and Portugal. That's because 'dictator' is a pejorative term assigned to certain rulers by other nations, particularly the developed nations of the West - that is, countries with thriving economies - such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and many others. [8], Totalitarianism is a variation of dictatorship characterized by the presence of a single political party and more specifically, by a powerful leader who imposes personal and political prominence. The ruler of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Dictatorship definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary These nationalist movements supported non-alignment, keeping most Middle Eastern dictatorships out of the American and Soviet spheres of influence. [2] The inner circle's support is necessary for a dictator's orders to be carried out, causing elites to serve as a check on the dictator's power. The people living in dictatorships are often subjected to human rights abuses and severe limits to their personal freedom. Instead, dictators have ordinary titles such as president, emperor, great leader and similar monikers. Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna in Mexico and Juan Manuel de Rosas in Argentina are examples of such leaders. [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. A dictatorship leader is a political leader who possesses absolute power. Most modern-day dictators rise to power for personal reasons, which are not usually benevolent or for the good of the country's citizens. The government was described as a dictatorship of the proletariat in which power was exercised by soviets. [102] The stability of the Soviet Union weakened in the 1980s. A dictator that has concentrated significant power is more likely to be exiled, imprisoned, or killed after ouster, and accordingly they are more likely to refuse negotiation and cling to power. dictatorship: 1 n a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) [98], One of the tasks in political science is to measure and classify regimes as either democracies or dictatorship (authoritarian) countries. Totalitarian Countries 2023 - worldpopulationreview.com 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 . Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [74] The Bolsheviks consolidated power by 1922, forming the Soviet Union. 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. . copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. North Korea's Power Structure - Council on Foreign Relations Dictatorship is the special type of ruling over a country. They are not held accountable for their actions and are free to do as they please, even limiting citizens' freedom and rights, including: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. [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. [95] A similar phenomenon took place in Korea, where Kim Il-sung created a Soviet-backed communist dictatorship in North Korea[96] and Syngman Rhee created a US-backed nationalist dictatorship in South Korea. [97], The Middle East was decolonized during the Cold War, and many nationalist movements gained strength post-independence. [5] This is particularly true when the inner circle is made up of military officers that have the resources to carry out a military coup. Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. Direct Democracy Examples in World History | Pros & Cons, What is Constitutional Monarchy? succeed. Current dictatorships include Russia, Equatorial New Guinea, and North Korea. Rule by dictator. 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. Send us feedback about these examples. This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 19:44. Hybrid dictatorships are regimes that have a combination of these classifications. While portrayed to their people as benevolent, loving rulers, dictators typically come to power simply to benefit themselves. [57] The rule of a dictator was not necessarily considered tyrannical in Ancient Rome, though it has been described in some accounts as a "temporary tyranny" or an "elective tyranny". 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. The Kim family, specifically Supreme Leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, has ruled North Korea since 1948. [143], Institutions that coerce the opposition through the use of violence may serve different roles or they may be used to counterbalance one another in order to prevent one institution from becoming too powerful. Amy has a master's of library and information science and a master's of arts in history. [72] The societal upheaval caused by World War I and the unstable peace it produced further contributed to instability that benefited extremist movements and rallied support for their causes. The country suffered for many years under his, His enemies accused him of establishing a, Today, Russia under President Vladimir Putin is an autocracy verging on military, Lest this only conjure up images of a repressive, The latter includes the now-defunct dark web market Hydra as well as North Koreas infamous Lazarus Group, a team of hackers that carries out sophisticated cyber and crypto robberies to support the, After seven brutal years in power, the Armed Forces finally withdrew from the Executive, allowing open elections in which Alfonsn handily took the popular vote with a mandate to investigate the crimes committed during the 1976-1983 military, Inevitably, during his life, Pel encountered problems: his commercial activities were sometimes mired in controversy; at one stage he was labeled a left-wing antagonist of the Brazilian government, then was later described as being too conservative in his views of the Brazilian, Chilean author Nona Fernndez grew up alongside the violence of the Pinochet, At least since the infamous dread pirate Captain Flint haunted the pages of Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island, pirate vessels have been treated in the popular imagination as floating, Post the Definition of dictatorship to Facebook, Share the Definition of dictatorship on Twitter. A dictator is an individual who forms a government where they make decisions without effective constitutional limitations. 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. Ruler often rises to power out of conflict, Dictators control all branches of government and the media, Intimidation, murder, imprisonment, violence and other human rights abuses are used to control the population, A cult of personality makes the ruler appear divine, Consider the factors that make a country a dictatorship, Describe the quality of life under a dictator's rule. Show question . Dictatorship | Definition, Characteristics, Countries, & Facts Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The term dictatorship comes from the Latin title dictator, which in the Roman Republic designated a temporary magistrate who was granted extraordinary powers in order to deal with state crises. Democracy, Monarchy and Dictatorship: Types of Government Systems Dictators make unilateral decisions that affect their countries without having to consult any other branch of government. The group may be military or political, it may be organized or disorganized, and it may disproportionately represent a certain demographic. Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws). Erdogan looked pale as he sat behind a desk surrounded by Cabinet members . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Marxist one-party states are sometimes distinguished from other one-party states, but they function similarly. [19], Military dictatorships are regimes in which military officers hold power, determine who will lead the country, and exercise influence over policy. In recent centuries, the dictatorships that replaced monarchies also evolved. The National Liberation Front & People's Army of Vietnam | History, Purpose & Strategy, The Power of the Federal Judiciary: Sources & Consequences, Totalitarian Government | Characteristics & Examples. The 20th-century dictatorships in Latin American countries had different aims. The rights of the people are typically suppressed in a dictatorship, sometimes to a great degree. [78], At the same time, nationalist movements grew throughout Europe. In other democracies, however, constitutional arrangements have survived quite lengthy periods of crisis, as in Great Britain and the United States during World War II, in which the use of extraordinary powers by the executive came to a halt with the end of the wartime emergency. One moose, two moose. [59] Shoguns were de facto military dictators in Japan beginning in 1185 and continuing for over six hundred years. Most do not use the title "dictator" but rather use terms such as: Dictatorships have certainly evolved over the centuries. Stability can be weakened when opposition groups grow and unify or when elites are not loyal to the regime. [54][55] The concept of "dictator" was first developed during the Roman Republic. 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. Learn the definition of a dictatorship and its main characteristics. [103] Belarus under the rule of Alexander Lukashenko has been described as "the last European dictatorship",[109][110] though the rule of Vladimir Putin in Russia has also been described as a dictatorship. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Between 1950 and 2016, one-party dictatorships made up 57% of authoritarian regimes in the world,[26] and one-party dictatorships have continued to expand more quickly than other forms of dictatorship in the latter half of the 20th century. 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. 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 Create your account, 20 chapters | This instability in turn required rulers to become increasingly authoritarian to stay in power, further propagating dictatorship in Africa. [27] One-party rule also developed in several countries in Africa during decolonization in the 1960s and 1970s, some of which produced authoritarian regimes. [136] Should a dictatorship fail, elections also permit dictators and elites to accept defeat without fearing violent recourse. Be sure to explain the role of the cult of personality and human rights abuses. In many of the states of Africa and Asia, for example, dictators quickly established themselves on the ruins of constitutional arrangements inherited from Western colonial powers. Many dictatorships thrive on a cult of personality that results in the ruler being seen and even worshiped as a god. In some instances, a group of nations or communities could be governed under a dictatorship instead of a single nation. [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. Similarly, although the 1958 constitution of the Fifth Republic of France contained far-reaching emergency powers conferred on the presidentwhen the institutions of the Republic, the independence of the nation, the integrity of its territory or the fulfillment of its international obligations are threatened with immediate and grave danger, and when the regular functioning of the constitutional authority is interruptedtheir implicit threat to the constitutional order has not been realized. Dictators use intimidation, terror, and the suppression of fundamental civil liberties. 2023. In other democracies, however, constitutional arrangements have survived quite lengthy periods of crisis government. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaid is right: U.S. must get [16], Most dictatorships are formed through military means or through a political party. What Type Of Government Does Russia Have? - WorldAtlas [98] Several Middle Eastern countries were the subject of military coups in the 1950s and 1960s, including Iraq, Syria, North Yemen, and South Yemen. [73] During World War II, Italy and Germany occupied several countries in Europe, imposing fascist puppet states upon many of the countries that they invaded. A dictatorship is a form of government where one person, or a small group of individuals, can make decisions without effective constitutional limitations. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. dictatorship summary | Britannica Example: A dictatorship exists when a leader has absolute power that is unchecked by any other branches of government. They are not held accountable for their actions and are free to do as they please, even limiting citizens' freedom and rights. - Definition & Examples, Probationary Period of Employment: Policy & Termination, Historical Cost: Definition, Principle & Advantages, What is Strategic Sourcing? In Latin America in the 19th century, various dictators arose after effective central authority had collapsed in the new nations recently freed from Spanish colonial rule. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the people, especially the workers, to stand up against the government.