History Professor Answers Dictator Questions | Tech Support | WIRED
Professor and authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins WIRED to answer the internetโs burning questions about dictators and fascism.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.
๐ค AI Summary
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๐ฎ๐ฉ Defining Fascism: ๐ฎ๐ฉ Fascism is characterized by a โ๏ธ one-party state with an ๐ all-powerful dictator, โ๏ธ no separation of powers, ๐ญ state control over various aspects of life, ๐บ๏ธ expansionist tendencies, and the ๐ use of violence.
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๐ช Dictatorโs Body as Symbol: ๐ช Some leaders, like ๐ท๐บ Putin, use their ๐ช physical appearance to project strength, following a ๐ tradition established by ๐ฎ๐น Mussolini.
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๐ Defining a Dictator: ๐ A dictator seeks ๐ฏ absolute power, ๐ disregards public welfare, ๐ฃ๏ธ manipulates people through propaganda, and ๐จ dismantles institutions that could check their authority.
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๐ฎ Authoritarian Tactics: ๐ฎ Dictators discredit ๐ฐ journalists, ๐ข spread misinformation, ๐จ create an atmosphere of terror, and use various forms of ๐ชข intimidation to maintain power.
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โ๏ธ Fascist vs. Communist Dictatorships: โ๏ธ While sharing methods like ๐ข propaganda and ๐ญ personality cults, they differ in their targets; ๐ฎ๐ฉ Fascists target leftists, while โญ Communists target counter-revolutionaries.
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๐ Common Traits of Tyrants: ๐ Dictators are often ๐ช narcissistic, โจ charismatic, ๐ฐ power-hungry, ๐คช paranoid, and operate within an ๐ซ inner circle, often including ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ family members.
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๐ฟ Dictatorโs Self-Image: ๐ฟ They create ๐ญ personality cults with ๐ฝ statues and omnipresent ๐ reminders to project an image of ๐ godliness and untouchability.
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๐ช How Dictators Gain Power: ๐ช They may be โ๏ธ appointed, come to power through โ elections and then transition to dictatorship, or โ seize power through coups.
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โฉ๏ธ Self-coup: โฉ๏ธ A self-coup is when a ๐ leader already in office ๐ซ refuses to leave, even after losing an โ election.
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๐คฐ Dictators and Womenโs Rights: ๐คฐ Many dictatorships try to control ๐บ womenโs reproductive rights, viewing ๐บ women as instruments for increasing the ๐ถ population for the state.
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โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Public Support for Dictators: โค๏ธโ๐ฅ Some people are drawn to ๐ dictators due to a perceived ๐ failure of democracy and the projection of ๐ dictators as ๐ช strong leaders.
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๐ฐ Dictators and Wealth: ๐ฐ Dictators often engage in ๐ธ corruption and ๐ฆ kleptocracy, using their power to amass personal ๐ฐ wealth.
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๐ฃ Rallies: ๐ฃ Dictators use ๐ฃ rallies to display ๐ช power and ๐ค loyalty.
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๐ Internet as a Tool: ๐ The internet can be used both to challenge and enhance dictatorship.
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๐ถ๏ธ Modern Day Fascism: ๐ถ๏ธ Modern-day leaders display fascist qualities by manipulating the โ electoral system.
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โ Elections: โ Dictators hold โ elections to maintain an ๐๏ธโ๐จ๏ธ illusion of legitimacy.
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๐ฆ Oligarchs: ๐ฆ Oligarchs help ๐ dictators come to power, but they can be disposed of when they are no longer useful.
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๐๏ธ Dictators and Infrastructure: ๐๏ธ Dictators often engage in ๐ง large construction projects to gain support.
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๐ Foreign Enemies: ๐ Dictators blame foreign countries to create a sense of ๐จ dread.
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๐ Expansion: ๐ Dictators want more ๐บ๏ธ land and ๐ช power.