Dictatorship is a form of government in which an individual or a small group wields power without legal or constitutional constraints. Dictators come in many varieties. Some are military officers who overthrow an elected government. Others are democratically elected politicians who, once in office, decide to discard democracy. Some dictators use power to transform society. Others expressly try to prevent social or political change. Still others don''t appear to be motivated by any ideology, whether liberal or conservative. Instead, they use power simply to enrich themselves or bolster their egos. This book examines the diverse forms of dictatorship. It is filled with interesting and instructive case histories.