The Mind of a Dictator

The Ultimate Mini-Guide to Dictatorship

1. 1. An Overview of Dictators, Dictatorships, & the Mind of A Dictator DICTATORSHIP
2. 2. DICTATORSHIP A system of government where the person who rules is not restricted by a constitution, laws, or opposition Relies on fear and power to exist First kings were ambitious people who seized power and forced others to obey them Form by overthrowing a current ruler or form of government, and replacing it with themselves. Form by getting elected fairly and taking advantage of the power
3. 3. WHY DICTATE? More than just desire for power Some may see needs in a government they believe is important May want to force their beliefs upon others Need a reason, target a specific enemy to fight
4. 4. FAMOUS DICTATORS IN HISTORY One of the earliest – King Herod the Great Commonly known for mass murder of all male children under the age of two Slaughtered many of his ‘would be’ successors Did not want anyone to succeed him
5. 5. FAMOUS DICTATORS IN HISTORY Others include: Attila the Hun – invaded Western & Eastern Roman Empires and other countries Genghis Khan – leader of the Mongolian Empire and conquered parts of central Asia & China Julius Caesar – conquered and expanded his empire, self- proclaimed dictator
6. 6. FAMOUS DICTATORS IN HISTORY Probably the most well- known: Adolf Hitler Become known through newspaper interviews while in prison His target or enemy – Jews Slaughtered millions of men, women, and children “The Jews have infected culture and German politics with their views…The only way in which Germans who have become infected with Judeophilia can be saved is by labeling everything un-German Jewish.” –Adolf Hitler
7. 7. CONTROL Many kinds of control dictators use What they fear most is their own citizens There are some forms of control today that are more subtle than forms in the past
8. 8. WAYS OF CONTROL Law down rules and regulations that specifically target opposing groups Deploy tax collectors or health inspectors to shut groups down Fill their speeches with references to justice, liberty and law “…law, regulation, and procedure can be a dictator’s most effective tools for strangling an opponent, precisely because these weapons appear to be benign, apolitical, and objective.” – William J. Dobson
9. 9. WAYS OF CONTROL Do not want their people to be ‘free’ Those with unrestricted liberty are free to organize against their dictatorship Instill fear with threats A fearful citizen will then avoid speaking out and becoming a target
10. 10. USE OF MILITARY & POLICE One of the most effective People rely on military and police for protection Control them, and control the people Helpful with dealing with riots and opposition Trained to ‘keep the peace’, and spot anyone who disagrees with you Can conduct searches without warrants or notification
11. 11. USE OF MILITARY & POLICE Discourage any kind of group assembling Are the ‘eyes’ of the dictator Put restrictions on any ‘unauthorized’ gatherings Arrest opposition leader and break up rallies Declare curfew or enforce martial law
12. 12. USE OF MILITARY & POLICE Arrest majority of opposition leaders Arrest those who complain Set groups against each other Divides and weakens a nation Encourage conflict within opposing parties
13. 13. USE OF PROPAGANDA & MEDIA Use propaganda to keep population loyal Let people know the government is accomplishing good Lead people to think former beliefs are false and need to adjust to a new belief
14. 14. USE OF PROPAGANDA & MEDIA Control and manage what comes out through media Set up fake anti-government sites that plant malware onto computers who leave comments on sites Require names and email addresses for online blogs Target the younger, restless generation, are easily manipulated
15. 15. LIFE UNDER DICTATORSHIP Can vary Miserable and difficult under restrictions and regulations Some may not know their life is under dictatorship
16. 16. LIFE UNDER DICTATORSHIP Alina Fernandez, Fidel Castro’s daughter, grew up in Cuba under his dictatorship Fled Cuba in 1993 Childhood was different “A blindfolded man was standing in front of a wall with his hands tied…his white shirt got covered with red spots…killed by those same long sticks the hairy men had brought…that made a rat-a-tat sound. It was an execution, someone said. It was sad.” – Alina Fernandez
17. 17. THE MIND OF A DICTATOR Most dictators share several similar traits and characteristics Military background Studies and research on traits and dictators show that: “…are usually charming, charismatic, and intelligent. They brim with self-confidence and independence…are also extremely self-absorbed, masterful liars, compassionless, often sadistic, and possess a boundless appetite for power.” – Professor James Fallon Comparable with qualities of the typical psychopath
18. 18. WHAT MAKES PEOPLE PSYCHOPATHIC? Extended amygdala – regulates fear, rage, emotional memory, and other feelings Node that mediates ‘animal instincts’
19. 19. WHAT MAKES PEOPLE PSYCHOPATHIC? Low activity in frontal lobe – prone to impulsive or psychopathic behavior When frontal lobe is injured, amygdala takes over and controls behavior
20. 20. FACTORS AND PEOPLE Other factors can include abusive and unhappy childhoods Loss of important caretakers or guardians such as parents People see dictatorships with the idea of Good vs. Evil When really, the trained specialists sent to eliminate dictators may also be no different than their target
21. 21. CONCLUSION Dictatorships still exist in the world today Control is always important, whether it be laws, police, or media Methods and techniques have changed and will most likely continue to change and adjust, due to the growing advancement of technology Recognized similarities with dictators and psychopaths Most likely continue in the future “When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right.” – Victor Hugo
22. 22. BIBLIOGRAPHY Connolly, Sean. Dictatorship. Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2013. Print. Dobson, William J. The Dictator’s Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy. New York: Random House, Inc., 2012. Print. Dolot, Miron. Execution By Hunger: The Hidden Holocaust. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1987. Print. Fallon, James Ph.D. The Mind of A Dictator: Exploring the Minds of Psychopaths and Dictators. 11 November 2011. Web. 9 February 2015. Fernandez, Alina. Castro’s Daughter: An Exile’s Memoir of Cuba. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997. Print. Garner, William. Who Really Owns Your Gold: How the Jesuits Use Gold Economics to Control Humanity. Siesta Key: Adagio Press, 2014. Print. How to Become A Dictator. 2014. Web. 14 January 2015. Marx, Karl. The Communist Manifesto. Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1848. Print. Nelson, Ken. Government Teacher. Shaira Caldwell. 9 February 2015. Interview. Rank, Michael. History’s Worst Dictators: A Short Guide to the Most Brutal Rulers, From Emperor Nero to Ivan the Terrible. Five Minute Books, 2014. Print. Steadman, Ian. Study: people without brain’s ‘fear centre’ can still be scared. 4 February 2013. Web. Picture. 10 February 2015. Wood, Randall and Carmine DeLuca. The Dictator’s Handbook. Gull Pond, 2012. Digital Print. Yeager, Carolyn. A Jew Interviews Adolf Hitler, 1931. 4 January 2013. Interview. 4 February 2015.

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