Which one of the following thinkers believes that dictatorship is the government of one man, who has not primarily obtained his position by inheritance, but by either force or consent and normally by a combination of both ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct option is 1: **Alfred Cobban**.

Alfred Cobban, a prominent historian and political scientist, is widely credited with this precise definition of dictatorship. In his critical analysis of modern political systems, Cobban distinguished dictatorship from traditional forms of authoritarian rule, like absolute monarchy. The core of his definition hinges on two critical components: first, the dictator is **not primarily an inheritor** (which distinguishes it from monarchy); and second, the dictator secures and maintains power through a combination of **force or consent**. Modern dictatorships, unlike simple tyranny, often employ propaganda, state-controlled media, and managed elections to manufacture a façade of consent or mass support, even while using force and repression to eliminate opposition. Cobban's formulation accurately captures the revolutionary, personal, and pseudo-popular nature of 20th-century dictatorships (like Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany), where the leader, often a charismatic figure, rises to power through political struggle rather than hereditary claims, relying on both coercion and popular (or manipulated) support.

The incorrect option is 2:

**Herman Finer** is a distinguished political scientist known for his comprehensive works on comparative government and his staunch defense of parliamentary democracy. Finer's primary focus in defining systems was generally on the accountability of the government to the people, particularly through responsible legislative bodies. While he certainly analyzed dictatorships, his definitions typically stress the complete lack of constitutional accountability and the arbitrary nature of the rule, focusing on the absence of political freedom. He did not formulate the widely cited definition that centers specifically on the combination of "force or consent" and the lack of inheritance in the manner attributed to Cobban. Finer’s work is more concerned with the institutional structure that dictates whether a government is democratic or dictatorial.

The incorrect option is 3:

**Herold Laski** (Harold J. Laski) was a highly influential British political theorist and academic, primarily associated with socialist and pluralist thought. Laski's contributions centered on sovereignty, liberty, rights, and the role of the state in achieving social justice. When addressing undemocratic regimes, Laski viewed them critically through the lens of individual rights and economic inequality, often arguing that they arise due to the failure of the liberal state to address the needs of the working class. His focus was more on the philosophical and ideological origins and consequences of power concentration rather than a clinical, empirical definition of the dictator's acquisition of power via the specific mechanism of force and consent combined.

The incorrect option is 4:

**Garner** (James Wilford Garner) was an American political scientist and international law expert, best known for his influential work, *Political Science and Government*. Garner provided classical classifications and definitions for various forms of government. His work often predates the rise of modern totalitarian regimes, or focused on the traditional classification based on the number of rulers (rule by one, few, or many). While his definition of dictatorship would include rule by one person without legal restraints, it is generally broader and less nuanced regarding the means of power acquisition ("force or consent") than the specific formulation put forward by Cobban to describe the modern phenomenon.