Throughout history, dictators and tyrants have been known for their lies, crimes, and stealing society's resources for themselves and their friends. Despite this, they often enjoy surprisingly high popularity even today.
Admiring a strong leader is deeply rooted in people's genetic makeup. A tribe with a strong leader usually prospered. Even in a wolf pack, the strongest individual becomes the leader.
In the past, a strong leader was the support and security of the community. However, in the age of nuclear weapons, strong leaders can drive society toward destruction and catastrophe. Truth is one of the most important values of a sustainable society. Unfortunately, humans are naturally inclined to seek comfort and avoid pain. A well-crafted lie can offer a sense of security, hope, or excitement that the often dull or harsh truth cannot provide.
The importance of social perspective cannot be underestimated. Lies can create a sense of togetherness or consensus within a group. If everyone believes or spreads the same story, it strengthens group cohesion, even if it is based on a lie.
During their election campaigns, dictator candidates often use the same language as school bullies. School bullies are condemned, but dictator candidates are allowed to continue spreading derogatory nicknames and lies because they are seen as decisive leaders.
The use of aggressive rhetoric can also make the candidate more approachable and genuine to some voters. An unfiltered style appeals to latent frustration and anger in the populace; it channels collective dissatisfaction into one powerful voice.
This spectacle allows dictator candidates to dominate headlines and social media, keeping themselves in the public spotlight. For individuals suffering from daily hardships, unrealistic promises of a better future can be very appealing, as they fail to recognize the dictator candidate's ultimate goal of power behind nationalism and other lies.
The strength of a democratic society lies in freedom of speech and a free press, which inevitably expose injustices and abuses sooner or later. Additionally, the freedom to pursue entrepreneurship creates new products and jobs that a collectivist society cannot produce.
However, freedom of speech is also a significant weakness of a democratic society because the media often focuses on what is wrong. A person can be happy even in modest circumstances, but if various channels constantly highlight negative aspects, they become depressed. Faith in life and the future fades, and they may not dare to have children who bring joy and continuity.
In a dictatorship, the dictator's first task is to consolidate power, which involves taking control of the press and eliminating opponents through dismissal, imprisonment, or worse. In a dictatorship, only positive stories are told about the society, which promotes public satisfaction, even if it is based on lies.
In a democracy, we are all responsible for society's decisions through elections. This causes stress for many because compromises must be made on complex issues. For intellectually lazy individuals, dictatorship offers relief—there is no need to ponder the causes and consequences of decisions, as the responsibility for decisions and moral questions lies with the dictator.
Dictators seize power far too easily; therefore, democracies must strengthen their constitutions in time to ensure the development and continuity of democracy. Democracies must better account for the interests of groups that bear the financial burdens of our society. The efficiency of the bureaucracy and the judiciary in a rule-based society must also be significantly enhanced. Time is money and justice.
Education and raising awareness are key to addressing this issue. By promoting critical thinking and historical awareness, societies can resist the temptations of authoritarianism. Encouraging discussion and understanding why people support dictators can help create better democratic systems.
By Antti Roine, Ulvila, 10 February 2025
This is a "Viewpoint" opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of The Helsinki Times. This column is not fact checked and HT is not be responsible for any possible inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article.
HT
