'20th-century Dictators: The Cult of Personality' Workshop *NEW*
1 October 2026 – 3 December 2026 · 17:00
Centre Cívic Urgell, la Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample, Eixample
Fear intimidates, but it is not enough. No dictator has been able to sustain power through violence alone: in the long term, terror without consent collapses. The great paradox of totalitarian regimes is that they need to be loved, or at least appear to be. This course examines seven of the most powerful personality cults of the 20th century: Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Il-sung, Ceaușescu and Mengistu. We will analyse the instruments used to manufacture their image (parades, posters, censorship, anthems) and how they turned adulation into a pillar of the state. A history of excessive power that does not end in the past: some contemporary figures will also make an appearance. Teacher: Pep Rueda Sabala.
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona · checked on 8 September 2026