9 Dangerous Illusions About Dictatorships
Exposing the seductive lies behind authoritarian power
In the comfort of wealthy democracies, where freedoms are taken for granted and problems are often debated rather than dictated, it’s surprisingly common to hear people romanticize authoritarian regimes. When things don’t go perfectly—when politics seem chaotic, infrastructure projects stall, or culture wars dominate public discourse—some begin to fantasize about the supposed “efficiency” and “stability” of faraway dictatorships or the glorious days of ancient, legendary conquerors. These beliefs are especially common among radicalized youth, from both the far left and the far right, who are disillusioned with the slow grind and perceived failures of systems with high degrees of freedom.
But this romanticization is rooted in either ignorance or a dangerous desire for control, and often both. Below are nine commonly held (but deeply flawed) ideas about authoritarian regimes that I continue to see resurface in online debates and political circles.
“They’re efficient – things just get done!”
Authoritarian regimes are often admired for their ability to “just build things”, whether it’s high-speed rail in China or massive infrastructure projects in the Middle East. But these projects often come at a steep human and ethical cost. Land is seized without consent, labor laws are ignored, and environmental regulations are bypassed—all in the name of progress.
In China, the phenomenon of tofu dreg construction (cheap, rushed, and unsafe building projects) has led to entire buildings collapsing just years after being completed. The speed of authoritarian efficiency often hides a deep rot beneath the surface. Similarly, “clean streets” in places like Pyongyang (North Korea) are a Potemkin village illusion: nothing but aesthetic order concealing a repressed and impoverished population.
“Low crime rates. They maintain order and discipline”
The supposed safety of authoritarian states is usually a carefully maintained illusion. Crime statistics, if released at all, are tightly controlled. Often, “low crime” simply means crimes aren’t acknowledged unless they serve a political purpose.
The rule of law isn’t applied evenly—it becomes a tool to punish dissent, not to protect citizens. Petty thieves may be executed while loyalist elites embezzle billions without consequence. “Discipline” in this context often means fear. People are obedient not because society is safe, but because stepping out of line could mean prison. Or even worse.
“At least there’s stability”
Authoritarian regimes may look stable from the outside. Long-serving leaders, minimal protest, seemingly calm societies. But this stability is maintained through brute force. Censorship, surveillance, secret police, and violent crackdowns.
It’s a very brittle system. When cracks appear, they widen quickly, as seen during the Arab Spring. Decades of fear-driven “stability” in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya gave way to chaos in mere weeks once people found the courage to resist.
“No political correctness/wokeness”
It’s tempting, especially among reactionaries, to believe that authoritarian regimes are refreshing in their rejection of “liberal whining” or identity politics. But this ignores the fact that free speech in such societies is a mirage.
You don’t get to speak freely. You conform, or you vanish. In many ways, the official ideology of dictatorships functions just like the worst forms of political correctness—it polices language, bans books, erases history, and punishes dissent. It's not freedom from wokeness; it’s a different brand of thought control. State-mandated virtue, just under a different flag.
“They care about tradition and culture”
Many assume that authoritarian regimes protect national heritage and culture better than open societies. In reality, they frequently manipulate and weaponize tradition to consolidate power.
Take Xi Jinping’s revival of “Confucian values”—not because of genuine respect for Chinese history, but to promote obedience, hierarchy, and nationalism. Similarly, Putin invokes Russian Orthodoxy and tsarist symbolism—not to preserve history, but to justify war, silence critics, and crush minorities. Culture becomes a state-sponsored performance instead of a living tradition.
“They’re not distracted by elections”
Without the inconvenience of campaigning or answering to voters, dictators can supposedly make swift, bold decisions. That’s true, but it’s also the problem.
Unaccountable power is dangerous. History is full of catastrophic decisions made by leaders unchecked by its own people. Forced collectivization, genocides, disastrous wars, and economic collapse. When nobody can say “no,” bad ideas become law, and often very quickly.
“There’s unity – no division like in democracies”
Authoritarian unity is often just a lack of visible dissent. Dissent exists—it’s just buried under fear. The outward calm is maintained through surveillance, propaganda, and brutal suppression.
But underneath, resentment simmers. In countries such as the former DDR people whisper, families are torn apart by loyalty tests, and neighbors spy on each other. This isn’t unity at all, it’s hardcore paranoia.
“Dictators are visionary leaders”
Autocrats are often painted as geniuses or saviors, especially early in their rise. But this myth rarely survives scrutiny. Dictators aren’t above politics, they just eliminate their competitors.
Surrounded by yes-men, obsessed with loyalty, and isolated from reality, they frequently make terrible decisions based on ego, delusion, or desperation. The cult of personality masks the fact that they are often deeply insecure, deeply corrupt, and completely out of touch with the needs of their people.
“They reduce corruption because they’re in control”
Some believe authoritarianism allows for stricter control over corruption. The truth is the exact opposite. Without press freedom, independent courts, or public accountability, corruption thrives and becomes systemic and untouchable.
In many dictatorships, the ruling elite become indistinguishable from organized crime. Corruption is not punished—it’s institutionalized. The leader’s inner circle gets rich while everyone else suffers in silence.
Reflections on the myths. What’s behind all these fantasies?
One must ask: are these myths based on genuine ignorance, or is there a deeper psychological longing at play? In a world of complexity and uncertainty, the idea of a strong hand guiding the ship can be seductive—especially for those disillusioned with modern life.
Even when confronted with the flaws of dictatorships, some still shrug and say: “Well, as long as you just keep your head down in these regimes, you’re probably safe.” But history tells us otherwise. Under Stalin, millions were imprisoned or executed, not because they rebelled, but because the system simply needed some scapegoats. Loyalty didn’t save them. Their innocence didn’t matter.
“What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that they don't like something to saying that the government should forbid it. When you go down that road, don't expect freedom to survive very long.”
Thomas Sowell
As of today, there are roughly 59 countries considered authoritarian, with many others drifting worryingly close to that edge. These myths don’t just reflect naïve idealism—they pave the way for dystopian regime changes.
Authoritarianism doesn’t fix any problems. It buries the problems, and often along with the people brave enough to point them out.
So stay skeptical. Stay free. And be on guard that your country doesn't become one of them. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
Boy, talk about Stockholm Syndrome.
I am afraid that until a certain segment of this society gets punished by the very things they support, nothing will change.