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History Professor Answers Dictator Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

Professor and authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins WIRED to answer the internetโ€™s burning questions about dictators and fascism.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.

๐Ÿค– AI Summary

  • ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Defining Fascism: ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Fascism is characterized by a โ˜๏ธ one-party state with an ๐Ÿ‘‘ all-powerful dictator, โš–๏ธ no separation of powers, ๐Ÿญ state control over various aspects of life, ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ expansionist tendencies, and the ๐Ÿ‘Š use of violence.

  • ๐Ÿ’ช Dictatorโ€™s Body as Symbol: ๐Ÿ’ช Some leaders, like ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Putin, use their ๐Ÿ’ช physical appearance to project strength, following a ๐Ÿ“œ tradition established by ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Mussolini.

  • ๐Ÿ‘‘ Defining a Dictator: ๐Ÿ‘‘ A dictator seeks ๐Ÿ’ฏ absolute power, ๐Ÿ’” disregards public welfare, ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ manipulates people through propaganda, and ๐Ÿ”จ dismantles institutions that could check their authority.

  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎ Authoritarian Tactics: ๐Ÿ‘ฎ Dictators discredit ๐Ÿ“ฐ journalists, ๐Ÿ“ข spread misinformation, ๐Ÿ˜จ create an atmosphere of terror, and use various forms of ๐Ÿชข intimidation to maintain power.

  • โš”๏ธ Fascist vs. Communist Dictatorships: โš”๏ธ While sharing methods like ๐Ÿ“ข propaganda and ๐ŸŽญ personality cults, they differ in their targets; ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Fascists target leftists, while โ˜ญ Communists target counter-revolutionaries.

  • ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Common Traits of Tyrants: ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Dictators are often ๐Ÿชž narcissistic, โœจ charismatic, ๐Ÿ’ฐ power-hungry, ๐Ÿคช paranoid, and operate within an ๐Ÿซ‚ inner circle, often including ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ family members.

  • ๐Ÿ—ฟ Dictatorโ€™s Self-Image: ๐Ÿ—ฟ They create ๐ŸŽญ personality cults with ๐Ÿ—ฝ statues and omnipresent ๐Ÿ”” reminders to project an image of ๐Ÿ™ godliness and untouchability.

  • ๐Ÿชœ How Dictators Gain Power: ๐Ÿชœ They may be โœ๏ธ appointed, come to power through โœ… elections and then transition to dictatorship, or โœŠ seize power through coups.

  • โ†ฉ๏ธ Self-coup: โ†ฉ๏ธ A self-coup is when a ๐Ÿ‘‘ leader already in office ๐Ÿšซ refuses to leave, even after losing an โœ… election.

  • ๐Ÿคฐ Dictators and Womenโ€™s Rights: ๐Ÿคฐ Many dictatorships try to control ๐Ÿšบ womenโ€™s reproductive rights, viewing ๐Ÿšบ women as instruments for increasing the ๐Ÿ‘ถ population for the state.

  • โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ Public Support for Dictators: โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ Some people are drawn to ๐Ÿ‘‘ dictators due to a perceived ๐Ÿ’” failure of democracy and the projection of ๐Ÿ‘‘ dictators as ๐Ÿ’ช strong leaders.

  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Dictators and Wealth: ๐Ÿ’ฐ Dictators often engage in ๐Ÿ’ธ corruption and ๐Ÿฆ kleptocracy, using their power to amass personal ๐Ÿ’ฐ wealth.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฃ Rallies: ๐Ÿ“ฃ Dictators use ๐Ÿ“ฃ rallies to display ๐Ÿ’ช power and ๐Ÿค loyalty.

  • ๐ŸŒ Internet as a Tool: ๐ŸŒ The internet can be used both to challenge and enhance dictatorship.

  • ๐Ÿ•ถ๏ธ Modern Day Fascism: ๐Ÿ•ถ๏ธ Modern-day leaders display fascist qualities by manipulating the โœ… electoral system.

  • โœ… Elections: โœ… Dictators hold โœ… elections to maintain an ๐Ÿ‘๏ธโ€๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ illusion of legitimacy.

  • ๐Ÿฆ Oligarchs: ๐Ÿฆ Oligarchs help ๐Ÿ‘‘ dictators come to power, but they can be disposed of when they are no longer useful.

  • ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Dictators and Infrastructure: ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Dictators often engage in ๐Ÿšง large construction projects to gain support.

  • ๐ŸŒ Foreign Enemies: ๐ŸŒ Dictators blame foreign countries to create a sense of ๐Ÿ˜จ dread.

  • ๐Ÿš€ Expansion: ๐Ÿš€ Dictators want more ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ land and ๐Ÿ’ช power.