Oppression and Authoritarianism: Understanding The Nature of Tyranny

People are not dependent on the regime, rather it’s the regime and its system in place that depends on the people, and their willingness to conform. Tyrannies do not have power over people because of some God-given right. Instead, a tyranny is given power by the people. Because the regime and system in place need the validation of the people to have power, if the people deny their power then the tyranny can be overthrown for there is power in numbers. In this so-called tyranny essay we will define this concept and understand what we as society can do to defeat the tyranny in government. 

Tyranny refers to a form of government in which a single person, known as a tyrant, holds absolute power and authority, typically through the use of oppressive and authoritarian methods. In a tyranny, the ruler's power is not limited by laws, constitution or any other form of government. The ruler's authority is based on fear and repression and the power is passed on to the ruler's descendants or followers.

Tyrannies are characterized by the suppression of political opposition, the restriction of civil liberties, the suppression of freedom of speech and the press, and the use of force and violence to maintain control. In addition, tyrannies often involve the use of secret police, censorship, and propaganda to control the population and maintain the power of the ruling regime.

The manner in which tyrannies amass their power is reminiscent of a board game. The game is designed by the state and is intended to keep the players playing. The players of the game are the people under the control of the tyranny. The tyranny fabricates a strict rule guide on how to play the game, just like the instruction booklet of a board game. If the players decided to stop playing the game and live within the realm of truth, the game would no longer have power over them. If everyone were to stop playing the game, then the game would end. Much like the example of the greengrocer, his act of nonconformity threatened the whole system because he denied playing the game any longer. Thereby, he denied his consent to give the regime power over himself. For this very fact, People are both victims and pillars of the system. By denying the states lies and living in truth, people automatically differentiate themselves from the mandated system appointed by the state. This fault reveals the fragility of the state since power is only effective as much as citizens are willing to submit to it.

As understood through Snyder’s book “On Tyranny”, and Havel’s political essay “Power of The Powerless”, actions that stand out and that are based on the truth can prevent tyranny. The example of the greengrocer used in Havel’s political essay exemplifies how believing in truth and standing out work in unison to end tyranny. The greengrocer declines to take part in the ritual of displaying the tyranny’s slogan in his storefront based on the fact that the sign is a lie. His denial of the slogan against the prevailing public opinion makes it an action that stands out from the societal norms. Through the greengrocer’s actions, he reveals to the public that it is possible to live freely within the truth as we inherently are inclined to do as humans. His refusal to give power to empty slogans and useless rituals is him refusing to be a part of the lie that oppresses himself and others. His action takes the power away from the tyranny and gives it to the powerless. 

As illustrated both of the aforementioned texts, believing in the truth and standing out from status quo both play crucial roles in ending tyranny. Tyranny can be defeated through a combination of internal resistance and external pressure. Internal resistance can take the form of peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and political organizing. External pressure can come from other countries, international organizations, and human rights groups. However, the process of overthrowing a tyrant is often difficult and dangerous, and it requires the