Cult of personality: Encyclopedia II - Cult of personality - History

Cult of personality - History

Throughout history there have always been leaders who have fostered adulation. For much of premodern times, absolute monarchies were the dominant form of government, and monarchs were almost always held in enormous reverence. Through the principle of the divine right of kings, rulers were said to hold office by the will of God, and thus criticism of any leader was interpreted not only as treason but also as blasphemy.

Many leaders of the Roman Empire and Hellenistic Greece displayed features of today's cults of personality, as did Imperial China, with ancient Egypt especially noted for elevating monarchs to the status of god-kings.

By the 20th century, many nations (particularly in the West) began to move towards democracy. Yet at the same time, the 20th century saw the rise of new political regimes that strongly opposed democracy (e.g. fascism), and other regimes that declared themselves democratic in their rhetoric but were seen as dictatorial in practice (e.g. communist states). Modern technology such as the mass media allowed 20th century dictatorships to disseminate much greater quantities of propaganda than had been possible in the past. Before the invention of photography, sound recording and film, the majority of a country's population would never see their ruler's face or hear his voice.

The criticism of personality cults often focuses on the regimes of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong. During the peak of their reigns both these leaders appeared as god-like omniscient rulers, destined to rule their nation for all eternity. Government orders prescribed the hanging of their portraits in every home or public building, and many artists and poets were instructed to produce only works that glorified the leader.

The most famous fictional cult of personality is probably that of Big Brother in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. The character was possibly based on Britain's Earl Kitchener although more likely based on Stalin.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki