By the time a leader is universally recognized as a dictator, the indices—both the political metrics and the loyalty rosters—have usually been calculated long ago. This article explores the historical roots of dictator indices, the modern metrics used, and the defining characteristics that keep authoritarian leaders in power. 1. What is the Index Of The Dictator?

: A former speechwriter for a Central Asian autocrat describes how the Index’s “repetition score” — tracking how often a leader’s name appears in media per capita — became an internal KPI.

Controlled by military officers or a military junta.

Interestingly, the search term also has a secondary, more serious meaning. In political science and historical archives, researchers look for "indices" that catalog the behaviors of real authoritarian leaders.