The gradual erosion of democracy and rise of authoritarianism is a phenomenon that has been observed throughout history, but it feels particularly relevant in 2025 as populist leaders around the world exploit democratic institutions to consolidate political power. Using six key traits-- vanity, an allergy to learning, addiction to public adulation, rage at challenges, a thirst for revenge, and an inability to relinquish power-- this essay explores how dictatorships emerge and thrive, often within democratic societies.
1. Vanity: The Cult of Personality
Populist leaders often cultivate a grandiose self-image, presenting themselves as saviors of the nation. Remember Donald Trump's declaration on America that "I alone can fix it?" However , vanity is not merely a personal character flaw; it is weaponized through skillful propaganda and media control. Leaders like Hungary's Viktor Orba'n or past figures like Italy's fascist leader Benito Mussolini have built cults of personality that portray them as infallible; almost godlike. This vanity feeds into the narrative that they alone embody the will of the people, sidelining institutions and pluralistic governance.
In America's 2025 political climate, echoes of this can be seen in leaders who dismiss criticism as attacks on the nation itself. For example, Donald Trump has used an assassination attempt to sell his divine status to his MAGA hordes who now believe that "he was saved by God for a higher purpose." To cement his divine status and inculcate unquestioned fealty of his minions Trump's top cabinet officials consistently praise him at every turn literally delivering peons to his greatness.
2. Allergic to Learning: Distrust of Expertise
Dictators and populists alike exhibit a disdain for intellectuals and experts, preferring loyalty over competence. They bombastically declare that they "know more" than any general, doctor or expert. This allergy to learning undermines governance by sidelining evidence-based policymaking in favor of personal whims or populist rhetoric. For example, during global crises like climate change or pandemics, leaders who reject science exacerbate problems rather than solve them. This anti-intellectualism resonates with disillusioned voters but leaves nations vulnerable to poor decision-making.
The rise of Donald Trump in American politics and his securing a second presidency underscores and emphasizes this aversion to learning, a rejection of science, and suspicion and distrust of intellectualism. "Winging it" becomes the norm, and a prickly self-image means that even people in his close orbit go out of their way to praise him, refrain from any criticism, and bend backwards to accommodate his ever destructive behaviors. Revenge for the slightest thing is normalized as are the firehose of bombastic lies and petty, childish insults.
3. Addiction to Public Adulation
Today's populist leaders thrive on mass rallies, social media adoration, and constant validation from their base. This addiction to public adulation drives them to prioritize performative gestures and politics over substantive policies. In 2025, American and global populists use platforms like TikTok or live broadcasts to maintain a direct connection with their followers while bypassing traditional media scrutiny. The need for constant praise also fuels divisive rhetoric, as leaders vilify critics to galvanize their supporters. Willing and opportunistic echo chambers in the media help to promote, share and brainwash a mentally numb mass of supporters willing to believe even the most outlandish and easily debunked and proven lies, half-truths and disinformation.
4. Rage at Challenges: Intolerance for Opposition
When faced with dissent or challenges, authoritarian figures react with fury rather than dialogue. This rage manifests in crackdowns on protests, suppression of free speech, and even violence against opponents. In the U.S., this trait has been mirrored by efforts to delegitimize elections or label opposition voices as enemies of the state. And as with all creeping dictatorships the deliberate gutting, undermining and weakening of institutions of democracy and legal systems built up and strengthened over many years are all about wearing down the mass of people and instilling fear and anxiety in their midst. Globally, populists have used these tactics to silence critics and consolidate their grip on power.
5. A Thirst for Revenge
Revenge becomes a central motivator for leaders who feel slighted by political adversaries or institutions. Intolerance to criticism or simply questioning behaviors that go against public interests trigger pogroms of revenge and punitive reactions. Whether through purges of opposition figures or policies targeting critics, dictatorships institutionalize vengeance. In 2025's polarized political landscape, this thirst for revenge is evident in legal battles against former officials or attempts to rewrite history in favor of the ruling elite and its leader. In this context President Trump's revoking security clearances of top and influential political leaders is not only infantile but designed to enact petty revenge.
6. Inability to Relinquish Power
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of dictatorships is the refusal to step down. Leaders manipulate elections, rewrite constitutions, or declare states of emergency to extend their rule indefinitely. Even in democratic systems, populists undermine term limits or judicial independence to cling to power. This inability to relinquish authority erodes trust in democracy and sets dangerous precedents for future governance.
The Fragility of Democracy
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