Authoritarian Breakdown
The term 'dictator' is frequently heard these days in the media covering global revolutions. Originally, a dictator was an official in ancient Rome, entrusted with full authority during times of crisis. During this period, an individual would assume complete control over the government and military for a limited time, usually six months. Therefore, Roman dictatorship was a form of legal authority. However, towards the end of the Roman Republic, military commanders who seized power through illegitimate means also claimed this title, leading to an unlawful form of dictatorship. Sulla and Julius Caesar removed the limitations on dictatorship and ruled autocratically. Since then, a dictator has been defined as someone who, without holding a royal title, rules a state with absolute authority and without legal constraints...
