What makes a ruler a dictator? definition and list of dictators

Most dictators have several characteristics in common. They usually rule autocracies , governments with a single self-appointed leader and no governing body to check his power. Often, dictators have totalitarian regimes, keeping their power through control of the mass media. Totalitarian dictators also use secret police and spy on the citizens of their state as well as restrict or completely remove their personal freedoms.

Many of these dictators foster cults of personality , a form of hero worship in which the masses are fed propaganda declaring their leader to be flawless and in some cases, divine or divinely appointed. The North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung father of Kim Jong-il was essentially the sole subject of all forms of art created in the country.

Schoolchildren were taught to give thanks to Kim Il-sung, the source of all of their blessings, as part of their training. Critics spoke of him as being megalomaniacal and extremely narcissistic. Saddam Hussein's Iraq was also full of statues, murals, posters and paintings bearing his image.

A dictator is a political leader who rules over a country with absolute and unlimited power.

As with ancient Roman dictators and the more recent example of Napoleon Bonaparte, it's often the case that a state of emergency or a coup d'etat results in a dictator coming to power. However, there have been dictators who got there legally. Adolf Hitler, for example, was appointed chancellor, or head of government, by President Paul von Hindenburg in In addition to being political leaders, dictators often hold the highest military office in their state as well.

Many dictators were distinguished military commanders prior to gaining absolute power. Manuel Noriega of Panama was a soldier his entire life.