The dictatorships of Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan each have unique local, national, social, economic and cultural factors that caused the rejection of democratic governments, and led to the totalitarian regimes. It would be wrong to assume that these dictatorships are the same.

However, there are similarities that allows them to be compared.

1. They all rejected democratic values at roughly the same time.

2. They all placed loyalty to the state above the rights and freedoms of individuals.

3. The power exercised by each dictatorship was based on a combination of fear and reward.

4. Their authority rested on loyalty to a particular leader, ideology, or set of values.