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Since the nature of dictatorship is fundamentally at odds with the principals of [[democracy]], dictators are usually condemned by the international community. Consequently, many adopt tactics to try and give their regime an air of legitimacy, such as holding sham or coerced [[election]]s, or declaring a state of emergency in the country with the implication that democracy will be restored in due course (almost always an empty promise).

Since the nature of dictatorship is fundamentally at odds with the principals of [[democracy]], dictators are usually condemned by the international community. Consequently, many adopt tactics to try and give their regime an air of legitimacy, such as holding sham or coerced [[election]]s, or declaring a state of emergency in the country with the implication that democracy will be restored in due course (almost always an empty promise).

Notable dictators in world history have included [[Adolph Hitler]], Chancellor of Germany from 1933-45, [[Josef Stalin]], General Secretary of the Communist Party of the [[Soviet Union]] from 1928-53, [[Pol Pot]], head of the [[Khmer Rouge]] and ruler of [[Cambodia]] (or Kampuchea) from 1963-98, [[Mao Tzedong]], ruler of China from 1945-76, and [[Islam Karimov]], current ruler of Uzbekistan since 1991, [[Kim Jong Il]] of [[North Korea]], and [[Muamar Ghaddafi]], long-time terrorist leader of [[Libya]].  

Notable dictators in world history have included [[Adolf Hitler]], Chancellor of Germany from 1933-45, [[Josef Stalin]], General Secretary of the Communist Party of the [[Soviet Union]] from 1928-53, [[Pol Pot]], head of the [[Khmer Rouge]] and ruler of [[Cambodia]] (or Kampuchea) from 1963-98, [[Mao Tzedong]], ruler of China from 1945-76, and [[Islam Karimov]], current ruler of Uzbekistan since 1991, [[Kim Jong Il]] of [[North Korea]], and [[Muamar Ghaddafi]], long-time terrorist leader of [[Libya]].  

Some rulers take on the traits of a dictator but do not achieve complete totalitarian rule. Examples include [[Augusto Pinochet]] of Chile, and [[Fidel Castro]] of Cuba.

Some rulers take on the traits of a dictator but do not achieve complete totalitarian rule. Examples include [[Augusto Pinochet]] of Chile, and [[Fidel Castro]] of Cuba.