What Type Of Government Does Russia Have? - WorldAtlas This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/dictatorship, dictatorship - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), dictatorship - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Democracy Types, Principles & Examples | What is Democracy? A totalitarian government has "total control of mass communications and social and economic organizations". This instability in turn required rulers to become increasingly authoritarian to stay in power, further propagating dictatorship in Africa. A Roman dictator was a special magistrate that was temporarily appointed by the consul during times of crisis and granted total executive authority. Freedom House, the Polity data series, and the Democracy-Dictatorship Index are three of the most used data series by political scientists. [3] Elites must also compete to wield more power than one another, but the amount of power held by elites also depends on their unity. The National Liberation Front & People's Army of Vietnam | History, Purpose & Strategy, The Power of the Federal Judiciary: Sources & Consequences, Totalitarian Government | Characteristics & Examples. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini coined the term totalitario in the early 1920s to characterize the new fascist state of Italy, which he further described as "all within the state, none outside the state, none . Dictatorship is an old form of government with origins in ancient Rome. Military dictatorships are controlled by military officers, one-party dictatorships are controlled by the leadership of a political party, and personalist dictatorships are controlled by a single individual. A dictator may address the opposition by repressing it through force, modifying laws to restrict its power, or appeasing it with limited benefits. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. [44] As a result of authoritarian politics, a series of major issues may ensue. - Definition & Examples, Carl Von Clausewitz: Biography, Theory & Quotes, Small Business Project Management: Planning & Tools, Horizontal Expansion in Business: Definition & Examples, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Rule by dictator. [41], Personalist dictatorships fit the exact classic stereotype of authoritarian rule. The demands of industrialization compel recruitment on the basis of skill, merit, and achievement rather than on the basis of inherited social position and wealth. Most today are one of five types: Approximately 10% of countries today are considered dictatorships. By definition, a dictatorship is an absolute authority in any sphere. Mao consolidated his control of the People's Republic of China with the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, which involved the destruction of all elements of capitalism and traditionalism in China. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. The dictatorship is opposed to the democratic system of government. When a cyclone swept over the country, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions without food or shelter, the country's military dictatorship blocked humanitarian aid from reaching the people until it could hold a sham election. A dictatorship is a form of government in which most or all authority of the country is in the hands of a single individual; the leader.