This is a Dictatorship

Sadly, there are still plenty of dictators in the world. In 2015 Spanish publisher Media Vaca decided to produce a new edition with fresh illustrations by Mikel Casal. The independent publisher Book Island arranged for it to be translated into English by Lawrence Schimel and it is this version that is here under review.

In 2023 Swedish V-Dem research institute estimated that 72% of the world’s population now live in autocracies – an increase from 46% 10 years ago (Guardian 23.12.23). Bearing in mind some recent election results, there are perhaps now even more, as dictators certainly do not always come to power as a result of military interventions!

In straightforward language, the book describes the characteristics of a dictator and demonstrates how they behave towards those who do not obey him. Indeed, strikingly, all the dictators shown, from the composite typical one illustrated throughout to the gallery of 24 real ones caricatured on the endpapers, are men. However, having set out the stall of the demon dictator, the resilience of the people is revealed as they rise up and defeat their oppressor, although it is acknowledged that this can take many years.

Basque illustrator Mikel Casel has created pictures that draw on mid twentieth century modernist styles of art and design, particularly prevalent at the time Franco was in power in Spain. These include a fairly restricted palette of bold and saturated colours filling strong flat geometric shapes and thick, dark outlines defining the shapes, making them stand out sharply against the background and reinforcing the graphic, cut-out aesthetic. Facial features, clothing details, and object representations are highly simplified, often reduced to basic shapes or lines.

An interesting discussion starter for children. There are some multiple-choice questions at the end which are followed by more open-ended questions encouraging them to think for themselves. An endnote makes clear that the definition of dictatorship is not a simple one.