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A dictatorship is a system of governance in which one person or a small number of people
wields total authority over the rest of the country without effective constitutional restraints.
This article explains the Dictatorship which is important for UPSC Indian Polity Preparation.

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Dictatorship
The term dictatorship is derived from the Latin term dictator, which was
used in the Roman Republic to refer to a temporary magistrate who was
given enormous powers to deal with state crises.
A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person or a small
group of individuals has complete control over the rest of the country due
to a lack of effective constitutional limitations.
A dictatorship is a system of governance in which one person or a group
of people wields power without regard for constitutional limits.
There is only one person in charge of the country, and there is no
institution to monitor his or her power
In a dictatorship, elections are either not held or are severely regulated,
with the number of political parties and gatherings and groups limited.

Other Relevant Links

 Monarchy Totalitarianism

Difference between Democracy and Dictatorship Communism

Republic Oligarchy

Anarchy Direct Democracy

Historical background
Modern dictators are more akin to ancient tyrants than to ancient
dictators. The accounts of the tyrannies of Greece and Sicily by ancient
philosophers go a long way toward describing modern dictatorships.
Dictators frequently gain totalitarian political power through force or
fraud, which they maintain through intimidation, terror, and the restriction
of basic civil liberties.
In order to maintain public support, they may also use mass propaganda
strategies.
With the decline and disappearance of hereditary monarchs in the 19th
and 20th centuries, dictatorship became one of the two main kinds of
administration used by countries all over the world, the other being
constitutional democracy.
Dictators have exercised power in a variety of ways. Following the collapse
of effective central authority in the new states just freed from Spanish
colonial domination in Latin America in the 19th century, numerous
dictators rose to power.
Before marching on a weak national government, these caudillos, or self-
proclaimed leaders, usually led a private army and attempted to gain
control over an area.
Different dictators ruled Latin America in the latter half of the twentieth
century. They were national rather than provincial leaders, and nationalistic
military officers frequently placed them in positions of power.
They usually aligned themselves with a specific socioeconomic class and
aimed to either protect the interests of wealthy and privileged elites or
implement far-reaching left-wing social changes.

Characteristics
 Crimes and Laws - In a dictatorship, even minor crimes or violations of
the law are frequently subjected to harsh punishment. People are
threatened by such harsh consequences.
Economy - Everything, from the economy to the laws and the people, is
under the dictators' control. As a result, they do not have to be concerned
about this field. They establish their objectives, which they must achieve in
order to progress and develop.
Rules and Regulations - They establish the rules and regulations that they
believe are appropriate. No one in the community dares to speak out
against them. Because there are no consultations or disputes about any
issue, swift decisions may be made.
As a result, dictatorships are constantly one step ahead of their rivals.
Emergency situations - They are quite useful in emergency situations.
Because there is only one person making the choice, there is no ambiguity
in opinions at the last minute.
However, if something goes wrong, the individual who is to fault is the
only one who is held accountable.

Criticism
Power - It leads to power abuse. The dictator abuses his power to the
detriment of the people.
Inequity - People are always oppressed and suppressed by dictators.
Alternatively, they might promote their own preferences and interests. This
creates inequity, but no one disagrees because doing so would place
oneself in danger at the hands of the ruling authority.
Innocent individuals are slain in large numbers. Because the populace may
become dissatisfied with the government's policies, the dictator may
regard the individual as an enemy of the state.
Government policies - A government like this never makes the people
happy. As a result, it's feasible that the masses would protest and agitate
against the government's programmes of unity and attempt to overthrow
it at some point.
This dictatorship isn't permanent, and it never lasts. It eventually leads to
war.
Examples - North Korea is currently the most extreme example of power
dictatorship and the country is so advanced in terms of technology and
 dictatorship, and the country is so advanced in terms of technology and
nuclear weapons that, despite the fact that it is the twenty-first century,
even if multiple countries band together to wage war against it, they will
suffer a greater loss and will not even guarantee victory.

Conclusion
Dictatorships are based on absolute power. A dictator, on the other hand, does not refer to
himself as such. This person or small group may be a president, prime minister, king, or even
parliament; yet, they have totalitarian power over the country. A dictatorship is defined by the
dictator being harsh to a people group or failing to meet the needs of their country.

Other Relevant Links

Indian Polity UPSC Notes Types of government

Parliamentary form of government Presidential form of government

MCQs
Question: Consider the following statements

1. Elections are either not held or are heavily restricted in dictatorships.

2. A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person or a group of
people holds authority over others with respect for constitutional
constraints.

Which of the above statements is/are correct

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 and 2

Answer: (a) See the Explanation

Question: Consider the following statements

1. Even minor crimes or breaches of the law are typically punished harshly in
a dictatorship.
2. Dictatorship was useful in emergency situations.
 p g y

Which of the above statements is/are correct

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) See the Explanation

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Indian Polity Notes Indian Economy Notes

Art and Culture Notes Governance Notes

Ancient India History Notes Medieval India History Notes

Modern India History Notes Geography Notes

Science And Technology Notes Environment And Ecology Notes

Post Independence Notes Society Notes

Internal Security Notes Ethics Notes

Disaster Management Notes World History

International Relations Social Justice Notes

CSAT Notes Government Scheme Notes

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