| Lots of points here, some of which have already been picked up but here's a few of my own. First, the word "dictator" is now usually associated with a single individual who holds absolute power (or, at least, there is the perception that he does). So, on that basis, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini and one or two of the others would fall into that category. I don't think some of the others fall into this category as their power is/was circumscribed by other individuals/groups. A good example is Ahmadinejad who, for all his faults, is both constitutionally and practically subservient to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Likewise, I doubt if Tojo could be called a dictator given the position of the Emperor and the power of the army and navy high command. Secondly, one of the earlier respondents contended that monarchy and dictatorship are synonymous - that may come as a surprise to inhabitants of the UK, Netherlands and Sweden to name but three countries whose head of state is a king/queen and which - on most objective measures - score highly for the degree of freedom they enjoy. Thirdly, it should be Nicholas II - Romanov was merely his family name. Fourthly, Franco's first name was Francisco with two Cs and one S rather than the other way round. |
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