Poverty alleviation in these 10 dictatorship countries is in some cases associated with human rights abuses, violent crackdowns on the political opposition and indigenous people. [116] Dictatorships in the Middle East are primarily guided by Islamic nationalism. The DD dataset covers the annual data points of 199 countries from 1946 (or date of independence) to 2008. [111][112][113] Latin America saw a period of liberalization similar to that of Europe at the end of the Cold War, with Cuba being the only Latin American country that did not experience any degree of liberalization between 1992 and 2010. Examples might include King Cyrus the Great of Persia, who is thought to have created the first declaration of human rights, the Biblical King Solomon, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yue. [136], Dictatorships are typically more aggressive than democracy when in conflict with other nations, as dictators do not have to fear electoral costs of war. [56] Caesar subverted the tradition of temporary dictatorships when he was made dictator perpetuo, or a dictator for life, which led to the creation of the Roman Empire. Zimbabwe - 1980 to present - Robert Mugabe. His wealth is estimated to be approximately $600 million. Current Heads of State & Dictators - Planet Rulers, President Faustin Archange Touadera of the, President Flix Tshilombo Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, President Teodoro Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, President Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan of. But for today, these are the world's dictatorships. Semi-competitive elections also have the effect of incentivizing members of the ruling party to provide better treatment of citizens so they will be chosen as party nominees due to their popularity. Poverty has a destabilizing effect on government, causing democracy to fail and regimes to fall more often. [128]. Uganda - 1971 to 1979 - Idi Amin Dada. Imelda Marcos was the wife of Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled over the . People who are for dictatorship say it provides for a more stable government, helps abolish corruption, and is more efficient in emergencies. These nationalist movements supported non-alignment, keeping most Middle Eastern dictatorships out of the American and Soviet spheres of influence. Given the degree of censorship and control China's government leverages over its citizens, most political experts would call it a dictatorship. Coercive distribution comprises of distributing welfare and state resources to control citizens and elites. Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located within South Asia and Central Asia. Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era, and the country's strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. This means that the ruler or party has complete control. [98], During World War II, many countries of Central and Eastern Europe had been occupied by the Soviet Union. Dictatorships frequently hold elections in order to establish their legitimacy or provide incentives to members of the ruling party, but these elections are not competitive for the opposition. 10. [according to whom? These movements supported pan-Arab Nasserism during most of the Cold War, but they were largely replaced by Islamic nationalism by the 1980s. Imelda Marcos. If it is not responsible, it is a presidential democracy. The leader may be supported by a party or military, but still retains the overwhelming majority of power, especially regarding whom to place in which governmental roles, and relies heavily upon their own charisma to maintain control. Allowing the opposition to have representation in the regime, such as through a legislature, further reduces the likelihood of terrorist attacks in a dictatorship. Examples of Fascism. Some have been in power for decades, such as President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial New Guinea. Modern dictatorships first developed in the 19th century, which included Bonapartism in Europe and caudillos in Latin America. If you think that today's world is all about democracy, human rights, and freedoms, you live in a total illusion and you should definitely read our list of 15 countries with dictatorships today. Adolf Hitler known for his Nazi party and the barbarities and fierceness during his autocracy rule. Single-party dictatorships: 5. [1]:70. Terrible things have been done in the name of socialism and here are some of the most rigorous dictators. The exclave province of Cabinda has borders with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Military dictators may also be less trusting or diplomatic and underestimate the use of bargaining and compromise in politics. The totalitarian dictatorship of Adolf Hitler in Germany , from 1933 to 1945. Qatar - Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani Russia - Vladimir Putin, President of Russia Rwanda - Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda Saudi Arabia - King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia Somalia - Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia South Sudan - Salva Kiir Mayardit, President Most of them are characterized by a single leader with either no party or one that is weak. Its goal is to force compliance by demobilizing or annihilating actors of opposition. Those who believe that he is a dictator argue that he imprisons his opponents, removed freedom of speechthe press can only publish what he allows them toand has restructured the government to give himself more and longer-lasting power. While Thailand remains the world's last active military dictatorship, other notable examples of modern countries with histories of military rule include: Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Greece. A personalist dictator will manage these appointees by segmenting the government so that they cannot collaborate. Perhaps someday some of these modern dictatorships will cast off their dictators and embrace a more democratic and inclusive form of government. One person holds all of the country's power. But for today, these are the world's dictatorships. Unfortunately, democracy is still shaky in many countries, a number of which are fighting violent religious insurrections, and the likelihood of any fallen dictator being quickly replaced by another dictator is high. [107] Dictatorships are often recipients of foreign aid on the condition that they make advances toward democratization. For example, DD could classify a country which has a legislative assembly whose official name is "the parliament" but still classify it in any of the three categories. They are often characterized by their use of violence and repression to maintain power. "Tyrants, the World's 20 Worst Living Dictators", by David Wallechinsky, ranked Biya together with three others mainly in sub-Saharan Africa: Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and King Mswati of Swaziland. Donal Blaine Aidan Cinhil Haldane, 24th king of Gwynedd, reigned 1074 to 1095. Photo: Lars Klove. List of Cons of Dictatorships. The power structures of dictatorships vary, and different definitions of dictatorship consider different elements of this structure. 1. [18], A classification of dictatorships, which began with political scientist Barbara Geddes in 1999, focuses on where power lies. [1]:68. [106], The nature of dictatorship changed in much of the world at the onset of the 21st century. A dictator may address the opposition by repressing it through force, modifying laws to restrict its power, or appeasing it with limited benefits. Giving ultimate power and control to just one person is not ideal, as it can lead to future unrest and problems. This is often done via questionable means, including intimidation, imprisonment (lawful or not), physical violence, or even assassination. Changing Human Nature Needs a "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" . Some of the multi-party states with governing communist parties include Brazil, Nepal, India, and Russia. The type of dictatorship a country is ruled by typically comes down to the methods the dictator used to obtain power and how they go about maintaining it. The Soviet Union occupied nationalist dictatorships in the east and replaced them with communist dictatorships, while others established liberal democratic governments in the Western Bloc. [22], Military dictatorships are typically formed by a military coup in which senior officers use the military to overthrow the government. Francois Duvalier (1907 - 1971) The Haitian dictator, also known as Papa Doc, governed the Americas' poorest country from 1957 to he died in 1971. [149] Military and one-party dictatorships are more likely to experience terrorism than personalist dictatorships, as these regimes are under more pressure to undergo institutional change in response to terrorism.[150]. The leader of a dictatorship is called a dictator. Also, dictatorships . [88] European fascism was imported to Latin America as well, and the Vargas Era of Brazil was heavily influenced by the corporatism practiced in fascist Italy. [132] Foreign intervention takes place when another country seeks to topple a regime by invading the country or supporting the opposition. Stability can be weakened when opposition groups grow and unify or when elites are not loyal to the regime. The required majority needed to remove the sitting government varies between countries but is termed a vote of no confidence. The Countries with Dictatorships in the Modern World As of 2020, there are 52 nations with a dictator or authoritarian regime ruling the country: Three in Latin America and South America, 27 in Asia and the Middle East, and 22 in Africa. Among Africans past and present, you'll find a smattering of dictatorships. and "Which country has a dictatorship as its form of leadership?" [115], The Middle East and Northern Africa did not undergo liberalization during the third wave of democratisation, and most countries in this region remain dictatorships in the 21st century. They are more likely to end in violence and less likely to democratize than other forms of dictatorship. He took control of the nation in 1973 after leading a coup that deposed elected leftist leader Salvador Allende. [134] Revolution takes place when the opposition group grows large enough that elites in the regime cannot suppress it or choose not to. [31], Personalist dictatorships are regimes in which all power lies in the hands of a single individual.