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9 Principal Pros and Cons of Dictatorship

navajocodetalkersadmin on July 23, 2015 - 7:18 pm in Pros and Cons

A dictatorship is a form of government that we have seen all through out history, and even still today. This is when a single person, or in some cases a single group of people, is in complete and total control of an entire country. This ruler has literally no boundaries or limitation as to what they can do within the country that they preside over, which can be perceived as either a very good or a very bad thing. History has shown us that it is impossible to predict exactly what a dictator has planned for their country, people, or even the world. The fact remains that dictatorships are extremely volatile and are generally a threat the the safety and integrity of a country. However, is it possible that with the right person in charge, a dictatorship could be the most successful form of government that we have today?

The Pros of a Dictatorship

1. Change is Swift
One of the best things about only one person calling the shots is that any changes that need to be made to the country can happen instantly. There is no waiting and fighting for the change to be made, because there is simply no one to fight with about it. Once a dictator decides a law or change for the country, it goes into effect immediately.

2. The Amount of Crime is Diminished
There are typically very harsh punishments for even the smallest of crimes within a dictatorship. While it may seem unjust to put someone in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, it does serve one significant purpose, deters crime. The crime rates within dictator ran countries are very low. Even though the lack of crime is due to the fear that is instilled into the citizens, it is a fact that you simply cannot overlook.

3. They’re Not All Bad
A certain stigma is attached to the title of “dictator”. People instantly believe that the person is cruel, brutal, and selfish. This is certainly not the case, however. There are good and bad dictators, in the same way that there are good and bad presidents. If a person who loved their country, and even more importantly, knew what was best for their country where to come into to power they would be able to improve the country tremendously.

4. Highly Reduced Political Corruption
Much of the corruption that occurs in countries with other forms of government is the lies that are told to the people and the things that are covered up. This is not common in a dictatorship because a dictator doesn’t have to answer to anyone. They are typically up front with their plans for the country, because they know that no one will be able to stop them.

The Cons of a Dictatorship

1. Too Much Power Goes To Your Head
Power is a very strong thing. It can change even the best natured person into a tyrant. This is commonly what happens within a dictatorship. People realize very quickly just how much power they have as a dictator, and it becomes very difficult to not abuse this power for your own personal benefit.

2. A Historic Failure
There have been many dictators in the past who have brought horrible things to not only their country, but the entire world. One great examples of this is Adolf Hitler, who was the dictator of Germany during the second world war. After coming into power with promises of economic wealth, he began a mass genocide of the Jewish people. Saddam Hussein is another, more recent, example of the horrible things that can come from a dictatorship.

3. There is No Opposition
No one is allowed to publicly, or openly, oppose a dictator. There are very harsh punishments, sometimes even death, for anyone who goes against their power. This means that even if the dictator is about to make a horrible mistake, there is no one around to let him know, whether they are aware or not. When there are no checks and balances in place, many things can begin to go wrong very quickly.

4. Very Unfair Laws
Laws can be put into place at any time, with no process. These laws can also be changed at any time. The dictator has the ability to change things to suit his or her needs. The laws that they impose onto their people can be very damaging and harmful to the citizens, but may not be to the dictator.

5. A Ticking Time Bomb
Other countries view dictatorship as extremely volatile, uncooperative, and dangerous. This is due to the fact that they march to the beat of their own drum and have no concern over anyone else or their needs. They do not like to work with other countries, and often times even decide that they want to take over more land and people, and wage wars.

Important Facts About Dictatorships

  • There are four different types of recognized dictatorships. These are constitutional, communist, counterrevolutionary, and fascist.
  • There are dozens of countries that operate underneath dictatorships, even in today’s world. Some of these include Cuba, China, North Korea, Myanmar, Libya, Iran, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
  • Mao Zedong is known as the most deadly dictator in history. He ruled China from 1943 to 1976. During this time he caused the death of 65 million people.
  • Hitler is only the third deadliest dictator to have ever ruled, with a death toll of 18 millions. Joseph Stalin comes in second with over 40 million deaths.
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