What are the advantages of dictatorships

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Usually I tend to think that the disadvantages outweigh any advantages a dictatorship has. It surprises me why in some countries, past authoritarian leaders like Stalin and Franco are still revered in Russia and Spain. The dictator of Portugal, Antonio Salazar was ranked as the ''Greatest Portuguese Person''. I doubt if you went to Cambodia, that a lot of people there would say that Pol Pot left anything ''good'' during his time in power.

I don't know why but during the time where we had a year in the UK in which Boris Johnson left, then Liz Truss came along for a weeks and the Rishi Sunak came along, that other countries with one person or party in charge were thinking ''Your democracy is a joke.'' and that some would argue that a dictator keeps the peace and keeps chaos in check.

They tend to be good for the dictator.

A genuine advantage is the ability to govern for the long term. In democracies the relatively short period between elections means governments are unwilling to plan longer than the electoral cycle.

A benevolent dictator would be able to impose changes that would benefit in the long term but might be unpopular in the short term. We could, for example, deal with climate change very quickly if governments didn't have to fear the short-term unpopularity of the measures required to tackle it.

Trouble is, of course, that dictators tend not to be benevolent. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and all that.

Quick decision-making, easier long-term planning, stability of government, likely lower crime due to fear of cruel punishment, an intelligent dictator could make better decisions faster than 100 less intelligent people, being able to make decisions regardless of whether the public is right or wrong.

Huh, sounds good when I put it that way. Of course, having that much power rarely makes you a better, more sensible person. Concentrating that much power in one person can also mean that once that person is gone, their work is kind of undone (kind of like I mentioned in that othe thread with regards ro Tito).. Assuming you can have a smooth transition of power, it is unlikely that the next dictator will agree with everything the last dictator did--thus undermining the ability to plan long term. Democratic governments would also be likely to undo dictatorial policy, because humans have an innate desire to not be forced to do or believe things.

If you have an opinion different from the dictator you can be thrown in jail or shot or worse Think of Navalny in Russia A dictator stays in power because of fear

It would be great if the dictator was all-loving, all-powerful and all-wise. If not, it would be horrible.

The advantage of the former scenario is that it would make things much simpler - just trust and obey the dictator, and everything would work out fine. No more squabbling.

Can get things done quickly. New civil construction projects planned and completed with you red tape.

If they made ME dictator it would be great!

But if anyone else is made dictator it sucks.

The advantage of a dictatorship is that it concentrates power in one guy.

The disadvantage of a dictatorship is that it concentrates power in one guy.

Mao did a lot to get China up and on its feet. But once he did that he frequently shot China in the foot.

You have to admit that some dictators have been greatly admired. Fidel Castro was a more admired and beloved political figure than any "democratically elected" US President of his era. Also Ho ChMinh and Mao Zedong had many millions of admirers.

The word "Dictator" comes from the Roman Republic. There, dictators were granted temporary authority over the other state officials. They were appointed to lead the state during times of acute crisis such as plagues, civil strife and any war that threatened the city itself. They stood down after the crisis was over. Julius Caesar was asassinted after declaring himself permanent dictator, and the office was abolished as a result.

Judging by the answers the advantages of being a dictator are

1. You have all the power
2. Crime is smaller because people fear you and so they have a bigger respect for the law
3. You can also have great decision-making if you have exceptional intelligence in running the country accordingly despite the fact that you have an iron fist
4. No need for elections. You rule until you die and then people elect someone else random to replace you (unless you wanna do it the North Korean style with the Kim Dynasty)

As the posters above said

Its advantage is that national policy relies heavily on the political wisdom of the dictator - which can be extremely good or bad.
You can imagine what a person who is incorruptible, ascetic, knowledgeable about politics, and has a sense of responsibility for the country can achieve in this position.

We are often opposed to it because of its other side - it is unbearable when it sucks

Some people like to have decisions made for them. Others want to look at things in pure good and evil terms. Dictators provide that for them.