Question

Why might a dictator want to be in power?

Answer 1

Answer: When democracy falls, usually, the country's elites feel that democracy no longer “works” for them so they push for a dictatorship with hopes of stabilizing the government. With only 1 person in power, things should seemingly run smoother. However, in most cases in the long run this only divides a country further into turmoil.

Explanation:

Dictators may rise to power in a democracy through several ways. One way is the result of political polarization, where the competing political sides no longer want to cooperate with one another, allowing violent or extremist groups to take over politics instead.

Also, democracy can fall when a country’s elites feel that democracy no longer “works” for them. When these elites feel that losing an election may mean forfeiting their power and influence over the country, they may seek to take over the country by force, turning it into a dictatorship. Or, democracies can fall the other (more subtle) way, when elites first grab on to power via democratic means, before then stripping away democratic rights.