Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Narcissism in Full Bloom
- 2 Dreams of Glory and Narcissistic Rage
- 3 Great Expectations
- 4 Daughters of Destiny I: Indira Gandhi
- 5 Daughters of Destiny II: Benazir Bhutto
- 6 Narcissism and the Charismatic Leader–Follower Relationship
- 7 Selfobjects: The Special Role of Wives and the Inner Circle
- 8 Narcissism, Entitlement, Sex, and Power
- 9 An Exceptional Exception: The Rise and Fall of Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi
- 10 Phallic Narcissism in the Governor’s Mansion
- 11 The Impact of Illness and Age on Narcissistic Leaders
- 12 Seeking Immortality: Dictators and Their Progeny
- 13 Leaders by Default: Second-Choice Sons
- Concluding Note
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
12 - Seeking Immortality: Dictators and Their Progeny
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2014
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Narcissism in Full Bloom
- 2 Dreams of Glory and Narcissistic Rage
- 3 Great Expectations
- 4 Daughters of Destiny I: Indira Gandhi
- 5 Daughters of Destiny II: Benazir Bhutto
- 6 Narcissism and the Charismatic Leader–Follower Relationship
- 7 Selfobjects: The Special Role of Wives and the Inner Circle
- 8 Narcissism, Entitlement, Sex, and Power
- 9 An Exceptional Exception: The Rise and Fall of Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi
- 10 Phallic Narcissism in the Governor’s Mansion
- 11 The Impact of Illness and Age on Narcissistic Leaders
- 12 Seeking Immortality: Dictators and Their Progeny
- 13 Leaders by Default: Second-Choice Sons
- Concluding Note
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter, the manner in which narcissistic dictators seek to continue their legacy and secure their place in history by passing on the baton of power to the next generation is considered. Two examples will be reviewed: Saddam Hussein and his sons Uday and Qusay, and Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-eun.
SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS BOYS, UDAY AND QUSAY: THE FAMILY THAT SLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER
Saddam Hussein was not a typical soccer dad. Although he considered himself a great sportsman, rather than take his sons to sports events, starting at age ten, he took his sons to witness torture sessions, apparently imbued with what I consider one of his maxims, “the family that slays together stays together.” Thus, from early on, Saddam was preparing his sons to succeed him and was demonstrating the techniques for maintaining a rule of terror and total control. And he was teaching them that there were no limits to the violence they could administer, that they were special and need not fear retribution.
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- Narcissism and PoliticsDreams of Glory, pp. 182 - 195Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014