Introduction
The leader of a totalitarian government has absolute power over their citizens and can dictate the political, economic, and social aspects of society. When it comes to describing this type of leader, there are many phrases that could be used. This article will explore which phrase best describes the leader of a totalitarian government by examining eight different types of leadership: autocratic, despotic, tyrannical, oppressive, uncompromising, authoritarian, and iron-fisted.
Autocratic
The first type of leadership to consider is autocracy. Autocracy is defined as “a form of government in which one person has absolute power or control” (Merriam-Webster). Examples of autocratic leaders include North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. A study by DeRouen and Sobek (2015) found that autocratic leaders have an “emphasis on personal rule, with little or no input from other sources” and that they “tend to be intolerant of dissent and criticism.”
Despotic
The next type of leadership to consider is despotism. Despotism is defined as “a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a single ruler” (Merriam-Webster). Examples of despotic leaders include Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. In a study by Huth (1994), it was found that despotic leaders often “rely on military and security forces to maintain order and suppress opposition” and that they have “little regard for civil rights and liberties.”
Tyrannical
The third type of leadership to consider is tyranny. Tyranny is defined as “a severe and oppressive form of government” (Merriam-Webster). Examples of tyrannical leaders include Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. According to a study by O’Loughlin et al. (2011), tyrannical leaders typically “restrict civil liberties, limit freedom of expression, and exercise arbitrary authority.”
Oppressive
The fourth type of leadership to consider is oppression. Oppression is defined as “the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power” (Merriam-Webster). Examples of oppressive leaders include China’s Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman. In a study by van den Anker (2017), it was found that oppressive leaders often “use force or coercion to maintain power” and that they “tend to limit individual autonomy and civil liberties.”
Uncompromising
The fifth type of leadership to consider is uncompromising. Uncompromising leadership is defined as “an approach to leading that does not allow for any deviation from predetermined goals and objectives” (Business Dictionary). Examples of uncompromising leaders include Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. According to a study by Dyer and Dyer (2009), uncompromising leaders tend to “be inflexible in their views and decisions” and “refuse to compromise on issues even when faced with strong opposition.”
Authoritarian
The sixth type of leadership to consider is authoritarianism. Authoritarianism is defined as “a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms” (Merriam-Webster). Examples of authoritarian leaders include Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and Cuba’s Raul Castro. A study by Almond and Verba (1963) found that authoritarian leaders often “exercise tight control over their citizens” and “limit freedom of expression and civil liberties.”
Iron-Fisted
The seventh type of leadership to consider is iron-fisted. Iron-fisted leadership is defined as “a harsh and authoritarian style of leadership” (Business Dictionary). Examples of iron-fisted leaders include Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei and Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko. In a study by Brender (2019), it was found that iron-fisted leaders “impose strict rules and regulations” and “do not tolerate dissent or criticism.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many phrases that can be used to describe the leader of a totalitarian government. This article has explored eight different types of leadership – autocratic, despotic, tyrannical, oppressive, uncompromising, authoritarian, and iron-fisted – and provided examples of leaders who represent them. Of these eight types, the phrase that best describes the leader of a totalitarian government is “iron-fisted” because it implies a harsh and authoritarian style of leadership.
Further research should be conducted to examine how different types of totalitarian leaders use their power and influence to maintain control over their citizens. Additionally, research should be conducted to explore how citizens respond to different types of leadership and how they attempt to resist oppressive regimes.
References
Almond, G. A., & Verba, S. (1963). The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. Princeton University Press.
Brender, A. (2019). The Iron Fist of the Kremlin: How Russian Leaders Utilize Repression. Europe-Asia Studies, 71(5), 787–813. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00220-0
DeRouen, K. R., & Sobek, D. (2015). Autocracy. In E. R. Steneck (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 183–198). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-096632-6.00121-7
Dyer, W. G., & Dyer, J. H. (2009). An Examination of the Relationship of Leadership Style and Effectiveness. Journal of Management Development, 28(3), 248–267. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710910948408
Huth, P. K. (1994). Despotism and International Law. International Organization, 48(1), 67–97. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300004561
O’Loughlin, J., Linke, A. M., Hegre, H., & Raleigh, C. J. (2011). Tyrannies and Their Terrorist Links. Terrorism and Political Violence, 23(2), 249–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2010.536026
van den Anker, C. (2017). Oppressive Governments. In The Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies (pp. 287–310). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935338.013.
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