The Rise of the Dictators
Told through six themed episodes, this series explores how dictators rise to power in a compelling insight into the fragility of democracy and the frightening resilience of authoritarianism.
Director: Jim Wilks, Edmund Duff
Tearing Down the Old
History is filled with examples of how dictators have come to power, but what are the common themes, what are the circumstances that lead to tyranny, and what techniques do…
Cult of Personality
A strong decisive leader will emerge when the conditions are right, but there's a process to winning over a population; they need to sell themselves and build a cult of…
Follow the Money
Dictators might seem all-powerful, but their position in reality depends on a network of individuals who benefit from the dictator being in power - and their support doesn't come cheap.
Holding On to Power
Dictators are charismatic, narcissistic and sadistic, but they most of all crave power; keeping a grip on power once you have it takes a mix of negotiation, coercion and force.
Expanding Their Reach
Dictators often want to extend their power beyond their country's borders; this generally means military aggression and the deaths of vast numbers of soldiers and civilians.
How Dictators Fall
Dictatorships are almost universally unsustainable; a dictator's thirst for power invariably leads to greater and greater oppression, leaving a nation broken and so all dictatorships eventually fall.
