On dictatorship Essay Example
On dictatorship Essay Example

On dictatorship Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 5 (1256 words)
  • Published: September 3, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Mr. Alderson commissioned me to add a left-wing vibe to the magazine, so I have chosen a topic that will be familiar and relatable to most readers.

Despite living in 21st century Western Europe where there are guarantees of freedom of speech, worship and body art, and relatively free from fear of big brother, I initially considered the issue of dictatorship distant. However, when the average self-proclaimed intellectual is questioned on the issue, they often resort to cliches advocating for democracy, denouncing totalitarianism, and possibly referencing human rights if they lean towards a more liberal viewpoint.

The fact that Stalin is often mentioned before Hitler in discussions has always fascinated me. People in the West tend to view Stalin as a monstrous figure, who is larger-than-life. During the Cold War era, children in the West would invoke his name to scare their younger

...

siblings into submission. However, when compared to his Fascist counterpart, Stalin was unable to surpass him in almost any aspect.

Although the economic reforms in Germany succeeded where the 5-year plan fell short in the USSR, there were differences in the leadership abilities of Hitler and Stalin. While Hitler was a skilled orator, Stalin often struggled with public speaking due to his heavy Georgian accent. Additionally, while Stalin was begging for security against anti-comintern forces, Hitler had better access to resources such as Chamberlain. The western world's anti-communist propaganda has had a significant impact, leading to misconceptions about Stalin's character. It is important to dispel these beliefs and recognize that he was not inherently evil, but rather engaging in criminal behavior.

Although lacking the qualities of a great leader, such as Lenin's ambition or Trotsky's

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

talent, he was skilled in the art of backstabbing and managed to eliminate opponents far superior to him like Trotsky. Despite being feared, he was not respected and cannot be labeled as an "evil dictator".

It could be argued that he brought shame to the legacy of Marx. Throughout history, there have been examples of tyrannical absolutists and extremists, from Genghis Khan to Saddam and from Cromwell to Thatcher. Dictatorship has been a consistent pattern, with one person in charge since ancient times. This speaks to the theory of evolution.

Autocracy is based on the idea of the survival of the strongest and most audacious. Complete democracy is not effective because in critical decision-making moments, it tends to fail and produce absurdities, like the GM foods crisis. In an autocracy, there is no shared leadership; only the opinion of one individual matters.

Dictatorships can sometimes become profoundly incomprehensible when an individual is given absolute power. The Holocaust serves as the prime illustration of this unfathomable dimension, wherein millions of people were unjustly purged. It was the arbitrary dictate of a single individual that resulted in the biggest terror of modern history. The mind gets twisted with absolute power.

Trying to comprehend the mindset of a tyrant is akin to attempting to perceive the world through the eyes of someone with schizophrenia. These individuals seek power solely for the sake of power, driven by an ambition to assume omnipotence and devoid of any form of logic or emotion. Those who possess such characteristics are hazardous and should be avoided at all costs. In the present day, the contemporary equivalents of these deranged desires could be identified as the millennium

dome and/or the star-wars missile defence system. Throughout history, dictators have often employed a political ideology as a pretext for gaining supremacy. Fascists utilized the oppression of the treaty of Versailles, Bolsheviks used subjugation of the bourgeoisie and French bourgeoisie oppressed the aristocracy, all to attain their objectives.

It is common for those who have been oppressed to become oppressors themselves. A recurring pattern among the previously oppressed who desire to become oppressors is to claim they are fighting for "freedom." Bolshevism, for instance, freed peasants and workers from the tyrannical Tsarist rule in Russia. Similarly, Nazism claimed it was freeing Germans from the unjust Treaty of Versailles. The supposed liberation of people has been a frequent justification for oppression.

Dictatorships never offer true freedom, as evidenced by the oppression experienced by those confined to gulags, collective farms, and NHS hospitals. A recurring pattern in the history of authoritarian regimes is one of initially great leaders followed by weak successors. In the words of Marx, "Every giant..."

The idea that every successful person has a flaw, every brilliant mind is close-minded, and every crisis has negative repercussions is prevalent. Those who are exceptional are seen as incompatible with the world and are consequently dismissed. On the other hand, those who are mediocre establish themselves and persist in society. This can be observed through various instances, such as champagne causing an unpleasant aftertaste and Caesar's heroic deeds resulting in an insincere Octavianus. Similarly, Napoleon's reign as emperor led to the rise of bourgeois king Louis Philippe.

The presence of propaganda is a common characteristic within totalitarianism. It skillfully manipulates the emotions of people rather than their reason. Totalitarian states

have employed this tactic for years, whether it be within communism/socialism (Lenin, Mao, Che, and Roosevelt) or fascism (Hitler, Mussolini, and the Pope). "Herd poisoning," as named by Aldous Huxley in "A Brave New World Revisited," is the tool utilized by dictatorship's propaganda machine. In addition, Comrade Stalin was eventually succeeded by the foolish Gorbachev, while Margaret Thatcher was ultimately replaced by John Major.

The "crowd" is an ideal target for propagandists due to their susceptibility to sudden outbursts of rage, enthusiasm, or panic. The masses are already conditioned to herd poisoning, providing the orator with complete control. Hitler, for instance, was able to easily manipulate the crowd with his mastery of oratory skills. It is possible that the critical mindset of intellectuals made them less susceptible to propaganda tactics, which may be why a significant number of them ended up in labor camps in Siberia. Propaganda is typically uncompromisingly dogmatic and offers no room for nuance or gray areas.

The demagogue appeals to the subhuman mindlessness and moral imbecility of the masses, using mediums such as Harry Potter, Pokemon, On-Digital, and Sunny Delight's questionable ingredients for mind control. As a result, brainwashed and intoxicated youths will rise to do the bidding of the modern dictatorship that remains sophisticated, invisible, and formless. The presence of an invisible hand is still apparent.

Capitalism is being pushed towards corrupt practices due to its relentless grasp on those who willingly submit to it. This dictatorial system has surpassed the Third Reich and the USSR in its longevity and superiority. It has adapted and now hides behind the guise of democracy, remaining eternal despite changes in government. Its labor

camps are modernized with PentiumIII's and inmates have access to mobile phones. Propaganda seeps into the minds of people with a newfound subtlety and sophistication.

As enthusiastic followers of this system, we are all enslaved without realizing its oppressive nature since birth until death. We act as programmed robots, obediently performing our assigned tasks, and work tirelessly like philistines to operate the machinery. Nevertheless, we derive satisfaction from this fruitless labor. Every morning, we dutifully rise and pay homage to our unnamed leader with religious fervor.

In a capitalist society that functions effectively, we do not require a dictator since we are responsible for oppressing ourselves. We do not necessitate a covert police department as money ensures compliance. Furthermore, we will never be able to liberate ourselves from its authoritarian hold as there is no resistance.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New