AD3051 - Tyrants and Dictators: Authoritarianism in History

What will I learn on this module?

This module introduces you to the nature of authoritarian rule across a range of historical periods and geographical regions. It considers how tyrants or dictators come to power, the ideas they use to justify their rule, the methods they use to maintain control, and the societal consequences of their rule, including the growth of passive or active resistance.

The module takes a broad perspective of definitions of authoritarianism, introducing you to a variety of case studies such as early modern European autocratic monarchies, military or personal dictatorships from Latin America to Africa, and the ‘totalitarian’ fascist and communist regimes of the 20th century.

You will learn about the ideas which were employed to justify absolute monarchy and modern dictatorships, such as the philosophy of the divine right, the notion of ruler's singular as protecting the ‘national interest’ by ensuring state stability and order (especially during times of crisis, e.g., economic instability, social conflict, or real or imagined internal enemies or external threats), and claims about the advantages of benevolent, paternalist rulership. You will explore the contested concept of ‘totalitarianism’ and learn how this type of dictatorship, which relied on an official, all-embracing ideology (such as communism or fascism), attempted to reshape all aspects of society and mobilise the population.

The module will introduce students to the methods of authoritarian rule by exploring strategies used by tyrants and dictators to seize and maintain power, including how leaders exploit crises to justify taking extraordinary powers (gradually or via revolution), the use of propaganda via state-controlled media, censorship and charismatic rhetoric to build a leader cult. Students will gain an understanding of the role of repression and violence in maintaining autocratic or dictatorial regimes, such as the use of secret police, military force, imprisonment, and elimination of political opponents to suppress dissent. You will also consider how dictators undermined the representative institutions which limited their authority and gradually dismantled the rule of law and civil liberties.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn on this module by attending lectures and seminars. The lectures will introduce you to a particular case and its wider historical context. You will deepen your understanding of the case studies and the module themes and questions through weekly seminars, which are based on independent reading that is undertaken in preparation to the seminar sessions. Seminar discussions will incorporate both larger and smaller group discussions, built around focused questions on relevant themes and topics. Seminars will also include significant engagement with carefully selected primary sources. You will receive formative (i.e., non-assessed) feedback throughout the learning process and summative assessment (i.e., assessed and credit-bearing assessment) will match your learning against the learning outcomes for the module.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Your academic development will be supported through your module tutor, engagement with your peers, and through the programme leader. The module tutor will be accessible within publicised Feedback and Consultation hours and via email. Your peers will provide you with a collaborative learning environment, and your programme leader will guide you through the requirements and expectations of your programme, of which this module is part. You will also be supported through individual engagement with the academic literature, lectures, and resources available on the electronic learning portal (BlackBoard). Formative (i.e., non-assessed) feedback will occur throughout the module, through seminar activities and assessment tasks.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Demonstrate introductory knowledge and understanding of different historical definitions of tyranny and dictatorship
2. Demonstrate introductory knowledge and understanding of different varieties of authoritarian regimes in History
3. Identify basic patterns in the rise, maintenance and fall of authoritarian regimes (ideas, methods)
4. Demonstrate introductory knowledge and understanding of the sources of social support for and resistance to dictatorships and the nature of every-day life under them


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
5. Engage with scholarly texts, concepts and methods

6. Evaluate primary and secondary sources to construct evidence-based arguments about specific tyrants or dictators and their actions

7. Communicate findings and ideas in writing and in a way that conforms to academic expectations


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

8. Show awareness of how knowledge of historical authoritarianism can inform how we understand the contemporary political climate

How will I be assessed?

This module is assessed by one primary-source discussion of 500 words (weighted at 25%; MLO 1-8) and one essay of 1,500 words (weighted at 75%; MLO 1-8).

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by strong centralized control, limited political freedoms and the suppression of dissent. In authoritarian regimes, power is concentrated in the hands of a ruler or group with few or no checks on their authority. While authoritarianism can vary widely in its implementation, it usually lacks democratic norms such as pluralism, transparency, and the rule of law. This module explores how authoritarian systems emerge, what types of authoritarian systems exist, what commonalities they share and how they differ from each other? Among the case studies you may be introduced to are monarchs who sought to exercise absolute power in early modern Europe (such as Charles I or Louis XIV), the ideology-driven Fascist and Communist regimes in modern Europe (such as Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin), and the military and personalist dictators and military juntas of Latin America (such as Juan Peron or Anastasio Somoza) and Africa (such as Idi Amin) in the 20th century.

The module offers the opportunity to consider the relationship between historical authoritarianism and modern concepts of democracy, human rights and the rule of law and how the experiences of past societies might help us reflect upon and engage with contemporary politics in more informed and effective ways.

Course info

UCAS Code Z008

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 4 years Full Time or 5 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

School Humanities and Social Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

History (Extended Degree) BA (Hons)

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

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