Dictatorship: Not a curse...

Dictatorship...when most of us hear the word "Dictator" we, in our heads, spontaneously imagine images of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein or any other ruler who was involved in mass killings and genocide. And thus, I decided to clarify the position of dictatorship and Bring A Change in our thinking.

Firstly, most of us confuse dictatorship and fascism as being one and the same thing. That is our misconception because both have a different meaning. In the modern world fascism is mostly related to a rule that is cruel, harsh and has at some point promoted or practiced widespread killings which might have included killing of innocents. Fascism opposes social justice and equality. Many people believe that fascism can only be brought through dictatorship. That is where they are wrong. Because on 31st May 2010 the whole world saw as a state, having a parliamentary democratic government, was involved in the killing of some innocent human rights activists. This very state, during the last 20 years, has been involved in the killing of over 5000 people in the region which included innocents, women and children. This only proves that fascism is not only restricted to dictatorship but extent is spread over all forms of government.

Now moving towards dictatorship. Dictatorship is a form of government where the whole power rests with a single body. Whether it be an individual or an organisation. Just like all other forms of government can be used for the welfare of the people as well as the opposite, same is the case with dictatorship. In the past the rule of a dictator has been used to rejuvenate nations, stabilize them, pull them out oppression and even make them a world power. On the contrary it has also been used as a platform for promoting racism, widespread discrimination and genocides. In short, just like everything else on this Earth, dictatorship too has both: its positive and negative aspects.

The rule of a dictator is commonly believed as the one in which the people have no rights to question. But dictatorship too has many forms like other systems of government. A rule in which people are deprived of their rights must be condemned in all ways. James Madison very rightly said:

"The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted."

Thus, dictatorship too has a form that supports the people, in fact in that form it is the people, or rather the working class of the country that place the dictator through revolution. And that form is named the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (Proletariat: The working class). A dictator such as that of the people, by the people and for the people. A perfect blend of traditional dictatorship and democracy. The dictator becomes fully answerable to the people. But at the same time he is has the full authority. It only makes sense that there should be a single ruling body, which holds all the power, as multiple ones can result in confusion and mismanagement.

For the past 63 years we have seen both dictatorial and democratic governments. Dictatorial ones failed because it was the Dictatorship of the Capitalist (opposite to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat/forced dictatorship in which the dictator is not answerable to anyone). And the Democratic ones fell prey to corruption, mismanagement and creation of a class difference.

Hence, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is something which our country, Pakistan, needs at the moment. To stabilize it, to eliminate corruption, to end the misery of the poor and to bring social justice and equality. It is high time for the people of Pakistan to realise this and work towards achieving this aim.


-M.S.