Question

A dictatorship was explained in my book recently. It was defined as this...

Dictatorship-authoritarian forms of government such as a dictatorship exists where those who rule can’t be held responsible to the wishes of the people

If that's what a dictatorship is, I don't understand the following description.

The government is not accountable for its policies, nor for how they are carried out. Dictatorship is probably the oldest, and it is certainly the most common, form of government known to history.

Answer 1

If a government or person holds ultimate power in a country or group of countries, how is the government under this person or the government in charge of a country or countries not responsible for the policies they make or how they are carried out? That confuses me.

Answer 2

@ganeshie8

I know you generally do math, but I'd figure you'd be able to help me understand this description.

Read my confusion.

Answer 3

Imagine the entire world run by an whimsical dictator

Answer 4

Ofcourse in order to rule the world, he requires support from others. So assume that he knows how to impress others and force his policies.

Answer 5

How is he not responsible for his policies or how they are carried out then?

That's what is confusing me?

Answer 6

Since one person/government has all the control, there is no mechanism to question the political offenses and bad policies

Answer 7

My knowledge in these matters is poor but I think if you look at the history and current events, you will find many examples of the disasters that happen due to one single person/government having all the power.

Answer 8

The first character that pops in my head is hitler

Answer 9

What do you know about him ?

Answer 10

Since one person/government has all the control, there is no mechanism to question the political offenses and bad policies

Is that what they mean when they say this person is not accountable for their policies?

Answer 11

I think so. Hitler killed everyone he hated. He managed to kill millions of people only because he had all the power. By definition, in dictatorship there is no concept of individual rights since the government holds unlimited power over all men in the country. If everybody is a slave before a dictator, the word "accountability" has no meaning in his dictionary.

Answer 12

And can you explain what they mean when they say a dictator isnt responsible for how policies are carried out?

Answer 13

If it helps think of dictator as some hypothetical mad alien dog with control over the entire human race.

Answer 14

Is the mad dog accountable for its actions ? Human race suffers, but there is nothing to do for humans because the mad dog has all the control.

Answer 15

Ofcourse the dictator is responsible for his policies. I think your book says that there is no way to make him accountable for his actions in dictatorship.

Answer 16

In democracy people choose their leaders. If the leaders make mistakes, there is a judicial system to take the appropriate actions. Democracy is not ideal but it is somewhat better than dictatorship.