A dictatorship is a system of government in which a single person or party has complete political power; the dictator often maintains power by employing oppressive methods. Dictatorship is an old form of government with origins in ancient Rome. Dictators often ascend to power through democratic means but use their authority to subvert constitutional safeguards.Know More
According to Political Systems, a dictatorship is characterized by the rule of a dictator and the presence of a single dominant party. Examples include Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany, Stalin and the Communist Party in Russia and Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party in Italy. Once dictators are in office, they use unlawful methods to cement themselves and their party in power. They imprison, exile or assassinate political opponents, change the constitution and manipulate the press. In a dictatorship, the ruling party is closely aligned with the military and the dictator is often seen as a high general. This is in contrast to modern democracies, in which leaders distance themselves from the military and the law subordinates the armed forces to civilian control.
The term "dictator" and the concept come from ancient Rome. Originally, a dictator was an incumbent of a political office endowed by the Senate with strong emergency powers to deal with major threats. The dictator did not have unlimited or arbitrary power. The period of his dictatorship was circumscribed and he was expected to render justification for all of his actions following his period of service.Learn more about Types of Government
A communist state is a system of government whereby wealth is distributed to the people based on need. Production resources are owned and controlled by the government. The government, in turn, is expected to operate for the benefit of the working class.Full Answer >
The pros of totalitarianism, as with any dictatorship, derive from the strength of the state and its ability to take action promptly and advance its own interests. The primary con is that individual freedoms are nonexistent, and all human interests are subordinated to the state.Full Answer >
The key traits of totalitarianism are a one-party rule with a dictatorship, a dynamic leader, an ideology that sets the goals of the state, and methods of law enforcement that ultimately censor what people can read and watch. Furthermore, it includes modern technology and state control of religion and education.Full Answer >
Proponents of communism say the socioeconomic structure ensures equal access to education, health care and other basic human needs for all, while opponents say it encourages laziness and greed and often results in what amounts to a dictatorship. A handful of nations, including China, North Korea and Cuba, continue to operate under the communist form of government.Full Answer >