Despots generally come to power through one of several routes. Most typically, they seize power after a period of instability which is usually caused by extreme dissatisfaction with the previous incumbents. In such cases, dictators come in with a promise of bringing stability and jobs. Examples are the Islamist regime of Iran, Saddam Hussain in Iraq, Hafez Al Assad in Syria, Gamal Nasser in Egypt, the Al Saud family in Saudi Arabia, Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan (in fact all the military dictators of Pakistan fall under this category) and many others. Sometimes they come to power as a result of independence struggles. Examples of such dictators are Ahmed Ben Bella in Algeria, Kamal Ataturk in Turkey, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Habib Bourguiba in Tunisia. Still others are handed over power by their despotic predecessors. Examples of such dictators are Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Bashar Al Assad of Syria and Kim Jong Il of North Korea. Yet other dictators are essentially imposed on their hapless countries by foreign powers. Such dictators have included Mobuto Sese Seko of Congo and Sukarno of Indonesia.
No matter what route they take, all despots freeze the social development of their country and vastly slow down its economic development. The reasons for doing so are not hard to fathom. An educated, informed citizenry which has access to unbiased sources of information from which it can draw informed conclusions is a dangerous one. Over time, such people tend to demand a greater input on the running of the country. These people are also most likely to demand the unbiased enforcement of laws which in turn requires the establishment and development of independent institutions particularly the judiciary and the police.
Dictators on the other hand require a docile, cowed population which will not pose a threat to their rule. They certainly do not want an impartial application of laws and independent institutions. Such things are a direct threat to their rule particularly the latter. Independent institutions pose as counterweights to the dictator's power and prevent him from arbitrarily using it. Rapid economic development will eventually require an educated workforce which brings with it severe problems from a dictator's point of view. Questions will be raised regarding credibility and legitimacy that a dictator would prefer not be raised. In order to effectively perpetuate his rule, a typical dictator prefers to establish a small, corruptible clique which will be beholden to him for its privileges and riches
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