There is no actual playbook designed for democratically elected officials who have designs on more authority, power and control, but you can be assured that restricting the power and word of their country’s respective press was first on the list. Remember, historically many of the most well known dictators came to power initially through legitimate electoral means (i.e. Hitler and Putin). How does a democratically elected person, that theoretically came to power by the vote of millions and the will of the people, control those people…controlling their minds through propaganda and eventually intimidation.

I make it sound so simple and easy and of course the sociological factors behind the rise and control of authoritarians and dictators is far more complex than a simple paragraph contains, but the overall thesis is still true. Control of a country is often predicated on limiting and controlling the press and the information disseminated. READ MORE