The Characteristics of a Dictatorship and a Democracy (Leaving Cert History): Revision Notes

The Characteristics of a Dictatorship and a Democracy

In order to know how best to approach an essay on Communism or Fascism in any way, it is key that you understand the basic differences and principles that characterise the two. Below are a series of points that will highlight the differences between how a Communist state was run and how a Fascist state was run.

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How Communism and Fascism Are Different

Aspect	Communism	Fascism
Ideology	Based on Marxist-Leninist principles; aims for a classless society and collective ownership of resources.	Based on ultranationalism; emphasises the supremacy of the state and often a single ethnic group.
Economic System	State-controlled economy; means of production owned by the state.	Mixed economy; private property exists but heavily controlled by the state for national interests.
Political Structure	One-party system led by the Communist Party; no political pluralism.	One-party system led by a dictator; political opposition is banned
Leadership	Leaders emerge from within the Communist Party; often characterised by a cult of personality (e.g., Stalin).	Dictatorial leadership; often charismatic leaders (e.g., Mussolini, Hitler) with a cult of personality
Role of the State	The state controls all aspects of life, including economy, education, and media, to achieve a classless society.	The state controls all aspects of life to achieve national glory; strong emphasis on military and expansionism.
Social Structure	Promotes equality and aims to abolish class distinctions; class struggle is a central theme.	Maintains traditional hierarchies and inequalities; often emphasises social Darwinism and survival of the fittest.
Propaganda	Extensive use of propaganda to promote Communist ideology and the infallibility of the party and its leaders.	Extensive use of propaganda to promote nationalist ideology, the infallibility of the dictator, and the state's supremacy.
Repression and Control	Secret police (e.g., NKVD/KGB) used to suppress dissent and control the population; extensive use of purges and show trials.	Secret police (e.g., Gestapo) used to suppress dissent; political opponents and minorities often face severe persecution.
Foreign Policy	Seeks to support global communist movements; generally anti-imperialist but can be expansionist (e.g., USSR).	Aggressively expansionist; aims to conquer and dominate other nations to increase national power

Now that we have built on our pre-existing knowledge of Communism and looked at how it differs to Fascism, let's take a look at the inherent differences between a dictatorship and a democracy.

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Dictatorship and Democracy - How They Differ

Aspect	Dictatorship	Democracy
Leadership	Single leader or small group holds absolute power.	Leaders are elected by the people and serve limited terms.
Political Power	Concentrated in the hands of the dictator or ruling party.	Distributed across various branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial).
Elections	Non-existent, controlled, or rigged to ensure the ruler's power.	Free, fair, and regular elections where citizens vote for their leaders.
Political Freedom	Severely restricted; opposition is often suppressed.	Protected; citizens can freely express opinions, form parties, and oppose the government.
Rule of Law	The dictator's word is law; often arbitrary and inconsistent.	Laws apply equally to all; government actions are subject to legal constraints.
Civil Liberty	Limited or non-existent, censorship and surveillance are common.	Protected; freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion are upheld.
Economic Control	Often tightly controlled by the state or the dictator's cronies.	Varies; can range from free-market economies to mixed economies with some government intervention.
Accountability	The dictator is not accountable to the people; power is maintained through force.	Leaders are accountable to the electorate and can be removed through elections or legal processes.
Decision Making	Centralised; decisions are made by the dictator or a small group.	Decentralised; decisions are made through debate and consensus in legislatures and councils.
Examples in History	Nazi Germany under Hitler, North Korea under Kim Jong-un.	United States, United Kingdom, India.