Starting this thread to examine and discuss aspects of authoritarian regimes now and throughout history.
How they operate and how they think.
It is fascinating to me how these come about, how they are sustained by propaganda, oppression and bureaucracy...and how they fall. And they always do.
Can you imagine how things might look to an authoritarian leader?
Does the human brain and ego start to view people in a disconnected way?
Do they start to get a messianic personality complex where they see a certain way forward as some kind of personal vision that needs to be achieved at any cost?
Often it might be just plain old greed for power, like the mindset of a mafia or cartel boss.
There is no doubt that regimes are supported by like minded individuals and sycophants.
Eventually a system of government seems to almost take on a life of its own. It gains momentum. Although it eventually falls apart.
Ironically, even those loyal to the regime often get gobbled up by the very system they supported.
For many citizens, they must at least appear to be a fervent supporter even if they are not, in order to survive and not become a target of the system.
I can only imagine how frightening it must be for people who get caught up in the machine and treated roughly by a vast, heartless system.
How they operate and how they think.
It is fascinating to me how these come about, how they are sustained by propaganda, oppression and bureaucracy...and how they fall. And they always do.
Can you imagine how things might look to an authoritarian leader?
Does the human brain and ego start to view people in a disconnected way?
Do they start to get a messianic personality complex where they see a certain way forward as some kind of personal vision that needs to be achieved at any cost?
Often it might be just plain old greed for power, like the mindset of a mafia or cartel boss.
There is no doubt that regimes are supported by like minded individuals and sycophants.
Eventually a system of government seems to almost take on a life of its own. It gains momentum. Although it eventually falls apart.
Ironically, even those loyal to the regime often get gobbled up by the very system they supported.
For many citizens, they must at least appear to be a fervent supporter even if they are not, in order to survive and not become a target of the system.
I can only imagine how frightening it must be for people who get caught up in the machine and treated roughly by a vast, heartless system.