1. Introduction
2. After the First World War, countries that were affected by the war suffered economically, politically and socially. The need for reclaimed identity and an increased sense of stability was needed. As a result, totalitarian governments led by dictators emerged characterizing the 20^th century [1]. The paper argues on the basis that the main reason for the rise of dictators was the need for stability in the affected nations. Individually, the article shall present theoretical perspectives as to why with examples drawn from Mao (China), Stalin (Soviet Union) and Hitler (Germany).

1. The dictators wanted a new economic policy for their nations which would match up to the superpowers at the time. In the 1920s and 1930s, the United States of America and the United Kingdom were a force to reckon with militarily, politically and financially [2].
2. The pressure to make the world democratic in the eyes of America and U.K, leaders including Stalin, Hitler, and Mao wanted their countries to have their political and economic independence and superpower. For example, Stalin wanted the Soviet Union to have more allied nations from eastern Europe as a means to out-do Britain.
3. Similarly, Mao and Hitler wanted Germany and China to have their form of political power which would only be achieved through economic superiority that was comparable to that of America.

• The characteristics of the leaders were militarily oriented with the need to become powerful and feared. The rise of dictators was popular among the people in their respective countries due to the desire to have a strong, confident and undeterred leader [3].

1. Hitler, Mao, and Stalin are described as fearless leaders who used impunity to ensure that their people only followed their doctrines. At the time, people were not opposed to it except a minority of groups. The ability to induce impunity created a characteristic trait from the leaders [4].
2. Another aspect of their traits was the need to be the ultimate leaders of their time. Hitler, for example, created an autonomy where he was the only Kaiser whereas, the rest were followers. Similarly, Mao in China was elected the only supreme leader who made people and his followers subjective to his rule.
3. Finally, the reason for the rise in dictatorship was due to previous governments’ inability to ensure that affected countries were not affected by the Great War. During the First World War, governments in Germany, China, and the Soviet Union were deemed to have been administered by fearful and non-courageous leaders[5].

1. The rise of Stalin and Mao was due to the power vacuum that was left behind when the previous leader was ousted due to the increase of his unpopularity among the people. China and the Soviet Union were the most targeted nations during the First World War due to their doctrine believe[6].
2. Additionally, the rise of dictatorship in Germany was due to the impending danger that the previous leader faced by his supporters and his people. The nation was unsatisfied with the decisions the ruler made which led to a country suffering during the First World War. As a result, the power vacuum allowed players including Hitler to partake in the struggle for the right to rule.

Conclusion

1. The rise of dictators in countries like Germany, the Soviet Union, and China was inevitable due to the power vacuum for a staunch leader who would get the state to move forward.
2. The rise to power was necessary with the leaders possessing similar characteristics on the need to be fearless, and create impunity through which the countries would regain stability. Thus, they were pertinent to the security of both political and economic grounds.

• I have learned that the rise of leaders such as Hitler and Mao was out of necessity to ensure that their countries would emerge victorious after the great war which affected them politically and economically.

Annotated Bibliography

Lee, Stephen J. European Dictatorships 1918–1945. Routledge, 2012.

The book by Stephen provides a concise understanding of the reason for the rise of dictators after the great war. Stephen offers a detailed account on different leaders including Hitler, Mao, and Stalin and how their rise to power came about. Therefore, the book is essential to the essay as it provides a link to the main claim.

Corner, Paul. “Italian Fascism: whatever happened to dictatorship?” In Fascism, pp. 159-185. Routledge, 2017.

Corner provides a detailed account of the fascism movement under Mousilini and how it affected dictatorship during the Great War. The book is of importance because it allows for information about how the rise of totalitarianism came about in the 1900s.

Fischer, Ruth. Stalin and German Communism: A Study in the Origins of the State Party. Routledge, 2017.

The article by Fischer provides a profound explanation as to how communism became a stronghold principle in Germany. As such, the material is relevant to the essay as it gives insight into the issues about the rise of Hitler and Stalin.

Wallace, Jeremy L. “Juking the stats? Authoritarian information problems in China.” British Journal of Political Science 46, no. 1 (2016): 11-29.

The article presents information regarding Chinese dictatorship. The article is essential to the essay as it provides information regarding Chinese dictator Mao.

Nicholls, Anthony James, and Anthony J. Nicholls. Weimar and the Rise of Hitler. Macmillan, 1991.

The authors extrapolate on the events that led to the rise of Hitler. The article is essential to the essay as it provides information regarding Hitler and his dictatorship.

Friedrich, Carl J., and Zbigniew K. Brzezinski. “Totalitarian dictatorship.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP (1965).

The article provides an ideological understanding of dictatorship and what it means to be a dictatorial leader. Therefore, it is of importance to the report as it gives information regarding tyranny.

Bibliography

Lee, Stephen J. European Dictatorships 1918–1945. Routledge, 2012.

Corner, Paul. “Italian Fascism: whatever happened to dictatorship?” In Fascism, pp. 159-185. Routledge, 2017.

Fischer, Ruth. Stalin and German Communism: A Study in the Origins of the State Party. Routledge, 2017.

Wallace, Jeremy L. “Juking the stats? Authoritarian information problems in China.” British Journal of Political Science 46, no. 1 (2016): 11-29.

Nicholls, Anthony James, and Anthony J. Nicholls. Weimar and the Rise of Hitler. Macmillan, 1991.

Friedrich, Carl J., and Zbigniew K. Brzezinski. “Totalitarian dictatorship.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP (1965).

[1] Lee, Stephen J. European Dictatorships 1918–1945. Routledge, 2012.

[2] Corner, Paul. “Italian Fascism: whatever happened to dictatorship?.” In Fascism, pp. 159-185. Routledge, 2017.

[3] Fischer, Ruth. Stalin and German Communism: A Study in the Origins of the State Party. Routledge, 2017.

[4] Friedrich, Carl J., and Zbigniew K. Brzezinski. “Totalitarian dictatorship.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP (1965).

[5] Wallace, Jeremy L. “Juking the stats? Authoritarian information problems in China.” British Journal of Political Science 46, no. 1 (2016): 11-29.

[6] Nicholls, Anthony James, and Anthony J. Nicholls. Weimar and the Rise of Hitler. Macmillan, 1991.