THE DICTATORSHIPThe Dictatorship is the opposite of Democracy.

A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual: a dictator.

MUSSOLINIHITLER

STALIN CEAUSESCUKIM IR SEN

WHAT IS A DICTATOR?

• A dictator is a leader who holds and abuses an extraordinary power.

• A dictator has the power to make laws without restraint by a legislative assembly, for his own interest.

• Dictatorships are often characterised by some of the following: – suspension of elections and of

civil liberties– proclamation of a state of

emergency– rule by decree– repression of political opponents without

abiding by rule of law procedures– ruling a single-party state– creating a cult of personality

ROBERT MUGABE

• A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an image

- idealized - heroic - god-like

• This was created often through unquestioning flattery and praise.

• A cult of personality is similar to hero worship, except that it is established by mass media and propaganda.

THE CULT OF PERSONALITY

CEAUSESCU AND THE COMMUNIST ROMANIA

• Early seeds of the cult of personality can be found in the acclamation of Ceau-sescu following his speech in which he denounced the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

• From that date, there was an increasing identification of Romania with Ceaușescu in both the Romanian media and in the statements of other officials.

THE DICTATOR TITLES

“The Belowed President of the Republic, Head of State and Head of the Armed Forces, Secretary of the Communist Party, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic and Social

Development, President of the National Council of Working People, and Chairman of the Socialist Democracy and Unity Front”.

THE GLORIFICATION

From early years, schoolchildren learnt poems and songs in which the "party, the leader and the nation" are praised.

The purpose of the cult was to make any public opposition to Ceaușescu impossible, as he was considered by definition

infallible and above any criticism.

MEDIA PORTRAYALSThe media used the following expressions:

"golden era of Ceaușescu“"guarantor of the nation's progress“

"visionary architect of the nation's future".

List of epithets about Ceaușescu used by Romanian writers: 'architect', 'celestial body', 'demiurge', 'genius', 'secular god', 'miracle', 'morning star', 'navigator', 'Prince Charming', 'saint',

'saviour', 'sun', 'titan' and 'visionary‘.

PUBLIC IMAGENot surprisingly, the Ceaușescu’s was greatly concerned about their public image. Most ot the photos showed them in their late 40’s.

Romanian state television was under strict orders to portray them in the best possible light. For instance, producers had to take great care

to ensure that Ceaușescu's height (1.65m) was never emphasized.

Elena was never seen in profile because of her large nose and overall homely appearance. Consequences for breaking these rules were severe; one producer showed footage of Ceaușescu blinking and

stuttering, and was banned for three months.

Just for one day, imagine you live in dictatorship, in Romania.

Describe the kind of life you will have?

IMAGINE YOU LIVE IN A DICTATORSHIP