A dictatorship is a form of government characterised by the absolute rule of one person or a very small group of people who hold all political power (Britannica Definition).  Dictatorships in the democratic era are seen as extremely dangerous and deadly because they tend to treat their citizens inhumanely with full blown cruelty. Dictators do not rise to power, they fight violently or steal their way to power.

Tyranny basically refers to exercising power in an oppressive and controlling way.

So, if you are not sure whether you’re living in a tyrannical dictatorship or not, here are some telltale clues:

1. There are high levels of unexplained detentions and arrests of civilians

   

2. Enemies of the Executive political leader or president live and die in exile

   

3. Censorship of the media and public information

   

4. Unexplained disappearances of political and human rights activists

   

5. You cannot speak freely against the reigning regime

   

6. Political parties are abolished and if they exist, they have queer names like Resisting Moral Progress (RMP), People’s Resistance Army (RPA)
7. Suppression of investigators or whistleblowers who are sometimes are speaking up against injustice in the nation or voting irregularities 

   

8. Unpunished (accepted) misuse of public funds by the ruling group or person 
9. There are no independent bodies of the state in the executive, legislative or judiciary. All answer to the ruling dictator 

   

10. Use of armed force and tear gas during peaceful demonstration are normal 

    

11. Massive rigging (vote fraud) during elections 

    

12. Jury panels and the law is biased towards the reign of the dictator

    

13. Militarisation of law enforcement

    

14. Internal spying and surveillance of the civilians 

    

15. Supporters or political employees of the regime are really paid well regardless of their lack of competence or skills set amidst general poverty in the population 
16. Executive power or presidency is passed down to brothers or sons 

    

17. Increasing public ignorance of their civic duty and reluctance to perform their duty
18. Declaring ‘war on crime’ that becomes a war on civil liberties 

    

19. Use of staged events to produce popular support for instance acts of terrorism and then blaming the opposition
20. Increased dependency of people on the government. Everything is taken away or squandered and the masses live in poverty. In fact, dysfunction of the state is the bedrock for a dictatorship. 

    

21. Unnecessary and inexplicable roadblocks
22. Presidential PR is mismanaged and engages in ‘playground’ chatter
23. Class officials (small ruling group) live above the law
24. Political leaders or presidents come into power through war or theft
25. Illegal amendment of the constitution and constant lifting of the presidential limit terms
26. When genocide starts to occur 

    

27. Population is ignorant of their power in demanding fairness and justice
28. Disregard of the youth population in executive positions of leadership

Over to you now… get your checklist ready!