“Eventually, People Wake Up And Storm, Push, Drag, Vote Them Out": Vir Das’ Note On Dictators

Indian comedian, actor, and musician Vir Das took to social media to share his insights on the downfall of dictators, drawing parallels with historical patterns and contemporary global events. In his candid reflection, Vir Das, winner of International Emmy award in 2023, emphasized the inevitable demise of dictatorial regimes, noting their penchant for control and the subsequent erosion of support from the populace.

Highlighting the cyclical nature of dictatorial rule, Das underscored how dictators often rise to power by exploiting the economic disenfranchisement of their citizens, only to face opposition and dissent once the initial allure of power fades. As dictators resort to oppressive tactics to maintain control, the focus shifts from development to conflict, ultimately leading to their downfall.

Das particularly cited Russia as a case in point, suggesting that the country may be nearing a turning point in the coming decade. He pointed out that as regimes become increasingly preoccupied with suppressing opposition and instigating conflicts, they sow the seeds of their own demise, paving the way for popular uprisings and democratic transitions.

Vir Das’ Full Post:

“Dictators always fall. That’s history. They get obsessed with controlling everything under their sights and use more and more brutal methods. Human beings will only look away for so long. Then the tiniest thing that no one saw sparks change. Hope Russia sees theirs soon. I feel like most Dictators get into it knowing this, but they’re hoping they can live out their life before history catches em and they seldom do. They come to power on the back of the economically disenfranchised. Concentrate on development and global posturing. Make people happy. Then the glory hangover wears off and people wake up to the fact that they’re still disenfranchised. Then they have to silence their own people. Then dissidents and opponents spring up. You can tell it’s going south when dictators focus more on destroying opponents than running countries. So all the rhetoric becomes about conflict instead of development. Then when that doesn’t go well, they start a war. That buys them a few years. And eventually the people wake up and storm, push, drag, vote them out. Same damned thing. Again and again and again. This is why one feels like Russia is near turning a corner in the next decade.”