Dictatorship

Dictatorship, in contemporary usage, refers to absolute rule by a leadership (usually one dictator) unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other social and political factors within the state.

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In Classical usage, dictatorship referred to magistrates in ancient Rome that were allocated absolute power during times of emergency. Their power was neither arbitrary nor unaccountable, however, being subject to law and requiring retrospective justification. There were no such dictatorships after the beginning of the second century BCE, and later dictators such as Sulla and the Roman emperors exercised power much more personally and arbitrarily.

Related Topics:
Classical - Ancient Rome - Sulla

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