The Psychology of Dictatorship

Pathological Narcissm - inflated sense of self, superiority, and entitlement, requiring excessive admiration, with power serving as a psychological "prosthesis" for inner fragility.

Psychopathy - callousness, lack of remorse, manipulativeness, impulsivity, and emotional shallowness

Need for Power - authority shores up inner insecurity and compensates for vulnerability.

Deep Seated Insecurity / Poor Self Esteem  

Lack of Empathy 

Vindictiveness & Manipulation - can be charming and skilled at exploiting human psychology, using propaganda, lies, and inflammatory language to destabilize populations and foster dependency.

Persecution & Paranoia - behavior becomes more malevolent as they consolidate power and eliminate perceived threats. 

Nationalism - the nation becomes an extension of the self; increasing national power serves to strengthen personal power.

Control - creating or exaggerating threats (enemies or minorities) to unify followers and justify oppressive measures, fostering dependence.

These traits often develop from a mix of genetic predispositions and early life experiences, with psychopathic traits sometimes encouraged in certain societal contexts, becoming disastrous when combined with absolute power. Dictators do not rule through fear and violence alone; they also rely on the psychology of their followers. Psychological processes such as obedience, conformity, and fear allow citizens to adopt the leader's ideology. The use of propaganda, media control, and the creation of "enemies" (often minority groups) helps to unify the population and cement allegiance through a shared sense of threat.

I have to admit that the above is the result of research, not just my own understanding of the subject. I couldn't have put it as concisely. I can make a list of current leaders who fit the picture very precisely. I am sure you can too, unless you are a follower of one of the leaders I am thinking of. In which case you will not be able to see what I see.

The fact that we currently have so many leaders in so many different parts of the world who fit this description is both deeply worrying & bodes ill for the future of our world as we know it. We are becoming habituated to serious instability in our politics & decision making. We are in danger of thinking that we cannot control the onward march of these leaders. 

We need to wake up, accept the truth of the situation & do something to stop them. Or we will be marching into a future for my grandchildren that I do not want to contemplate. Being passive & appeasing will not work. That's how 2 world wars started.