Fear and violence are not enough for any dictator to govern: these strategies may be essential to achieve power and even to maintain it for a time, but they are not usually effective in the long term. The paradox of the modern dictator is that he must create the illusion of popular support, since only a tyrant whose government is capable of inspiring idolatry in the people will be able to perpetuate himself. In Dictators, Frank Dik?tter examines eight...