Dictators and the cult of personality
Volume 2 | Issue 2 - Revolutions
Article by Brogan Campbell. Edited by Charlotte D’Arcy. Additional Research by Lisa Wall.
Looking back, how could mass murderers such as Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Idi Amin have risen to the top of political power? How could populations whose ancestors had fought for their right to vote, use their precious suffrage to allow such evil men to govern them? These dictators not only gained vast contemporary support but continue to enjoy support despite their misdemeanours and atrocities.
As this first issue focuses on belief I want to draw attention to the power of belief, how a person can be capricious and only believe what they choose to. Notorious dictators understand the power of the masses and how to manipulate them by creating a believable ideology that allows them to develop and maintain power. George Orwell fixated upon the power of belief in his fictional work ‘1984.’ ‘Big Brother’ acts as the dictator who successfully brainwashers the populace by making them primarily, mentally believe in the regime, and thus once their mind has fallen, their entire being gives whole heartedly to the dictators whim. Orwell’s controversial story reflects dictatorships throughout history.
Although many dictators of the past have favoured taking power by force and terror, they never fully gained control of their people and had to fervently continue to enforce this terror in order to maintain control. General Franco, dictator of Spain 1935-1975, is one of the main culprits. Instead of gaining popular support, Franco chose use the Spanish Police Force, the Guardia Civil, to stamp out opposition in each town to ensure there were no uprisings. Consequently, the Guardia Civil became infamous for the atrocities they committed throughout their 40 years in this political position.
Adolf Hitler, on the other hand, gained power mainly through legal methods. He took advantage of a country that had been left with low morale, a mountain of debt and numerous punishments after the losing the First World War. Hitler believed Germany had been weak and deserved better. This intense belief was reciprocated by the German people and thus spread like wildfire across the country.
Hitler became a beacon for Germans who were suffering with the lower quality life they had been left with once the reparations had been agreed. Rations were in force across Germany and therefore many people went hungry. Hitler, a fantastic orator, stood in front of these people and promised them a better life, offering them a Germany that they could believe in, a Germany they could be proud of. He also assured them they were special and better than everyone else. He enforced self-belief and this became his strongest tool in his quest for dominance. Because he spoke so vibrantly and so powerfully, he lit fires in all who listened to him; they believed in what he was saying and therefore many turned awayfrom the other atrocities he was performing as it was for ‘the greater good.’
Mao Zedong used similar tactics in order to facilitate his rise to power in China. He saw how the potential power of the country could be exerted on others. He understood the potential influence of the vast population and encouraged solidarity and self belief in the country in order to bring them together as one entity during the country’s so-called ‘Cultural Revolution’. Mao unleashed the power of the population of China and as a result, dragged a country that had endured countless wars, been invaded by Japan and had been left behind by the developing world.
The most successful dictators in history – that is say those who have caused the worst atrocities and held the strongest power, like Adolf Hitler – have recognised the importance of the masses. Hitler, like Mao, realised that self belief and motivation were his most powerful propaganda tool. Therefore, he took a country that was in the depths of despair and gave its people something to focus on and believe in and ensured that they became more positive, motivated and strong. As a result, these evil men were able to gain the power they yearned for, and thus commit the atrocities that for they are now remembered.