CONCEPT OF DICTATORSHIP

The word dictatorship comes from the word to dictate, meaning to command, to order, to request, to force or rather to instruct. Dictatorship, therefore, may be defined as that form of government in which the supreme power is exercised by one person in an autocratic manner.

The following are some of the characteristics of dictatorship:

· Only one political party is allowed to exist, for instance, during the second republic in Zambia, only United Nation Independent Party ( UNIP), was allowed to exist and all opposition parties were banned.

· Where there is dictatorship there is no individual liberty this is so because the people are not allowed to have any freedom of speech, association, press etc. This means that the people cannot criticize the government of the day.

DICTATORSHIP COMPARED TO DEMOCRACY

Democracy believes in the principle of mutual discussion and persuasion. This simply means that in a democracy there is equality. In a democracy people are allowed to organize themselves into various political parties of their choice while in dictatorship all opposition parties are suppressed or banned.

Dictatorship believes in violence when trying to change government while Democracy believes in the use of peaceful methods to change government. Dictators do not believe in arguments but in bullets while democracy allows arguments. Democracy is slow at passing decisions while dictators are so fast or rather quick in making decisions.

MERITS OF DICTATORSHIP

§ Dictatorship brings a strong government to the people

§ The dictator gives the people an efficient system of administration for fear to be removed by the people when election time comes.

§ Dictatorship is very important, especially in times of national crisis. Citizens will be forced to work extra hard in order to solve their problems

DEMERITS OF DICTATORSHIP

§ Dictatorship puts too much emphasis on war and bloodshed; therefore, this turns human beings into savages. This means that there can be no progress in society if it is dominated by fear and fear.

§ The citizens are encouraged to love their own countries and condemn others. The dictators advocate for aggressive nationalism.

§ Dictatorship results in much centralization that is bound to result in the destruction of individual initiative.