The Worst of the Worst

“Bad dude dictators and general coconut heads”

Modern Day Dictators

• 40 dictators around the world– 1.9 billion people under oppressive rule

• Despotism – Absolute ruler

• Tyrant– Unrestrained use of power– Unmerciful rule

• Repression– Put down, subdue, crush– No voice, no freedom of speech– Little economic opportunity

• Oppression– Weigh down the mind – Attitudes, beliefs, values– fear

• “End of History” (Dictatorships) with the Cold War (1991)– Democracy suppose to sweep the world– Repression suppose to “bite the dust”• And another one bites the dust, hey hey!

• …only 60% of worlds countries democratic• Better than the 28% in 1950– Some are not real democracies– Despots in disguise

• Insidious aspect– Most dictators started as “freedom fighters” to overthrow the

previous dictator• Revolutionaries turned tyrants– “crocodile liberators”

• Betray ideals that gave them power – Swiss bank socialists

• People pay for economic loss, banks stash the gains– “Briefcase bandits”

• Pillage and steal

• Cultural betrayal, economic devastation