Top 10 Worst World Leaders of All Time
#10: George W. Bush
President of the United States (2001-09)
Holding such an important government position means making difficult choices that can have widespread ramifications. Unfortunately, some politicians prioritize the wrong things, causing millions to suffer. After controversially being declared winner of the 2000 election against Al Gore, Bush continued to worsen matters, especially on an international level. He brought on two wars partially based on flawed intelligence reports and spawned irreversible destruction within the Middle East. Americans weren’t spared from his poor decisions either. He introduced tax cuts that primarily benefited the top 1% and which contributed to a massive increase in the national debt. Bush’s actions have had far-reaching consequences in terms of altering both the international and domestic landscape, and many continue to pay for his decisions.
#9: Saddam Hussein
President of Iraq (1979-2003)
Through his efforts in the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, Saddam Hussein quickly rose to power. Eventually he took full control of Iraq after being vice president to Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr. During his repressive reign he was incredibly cruel and inhumane. He gave orders to have certain groups of people, like the Shi’a and Kurdish people, eradicated. When faced with opposition, he implemented vicious torture tactics on those he suspected of resistance. Saddam maintained power via violent acts of terror. Instead of helping Iraq as a leader should, he brought on extreme damage and turmoil.
#8: Vlad III [aka Vlad the Impaler]
Voivode of Wallachia (1448; 1456-62; 1476-77)
Vlad is actually the inspiration behind Dracula, which ought to tell you something. The lengths this ruler went to in order to stabilize his country were horrendous. To keep the peace within his own territory, he inflicted many painful tactics upon his enemies. Impalement was perhaps his most favored option, hence his nickname. Some of the methods he used were excruciatingly lengthy, such as starving people or making the water undrinkable. Instead of focusing on hurting the people in power, he took out his warfare on civilians too. Although some of his actions resulted in increased power for his country, we can’t ignore the horrific way he went about achieving his goals.
#7: Leopold II
King of the Belgians (1865-1909)
Leopold II is famous for serving the longest reign of any Belgian monarch. He’s also famous for his brutality against the Congolese people. Leopold claimed that he wanted to maintain peace within Europe. His method to do so was by creating the Congo Free State and becoming the sole owner of it. To gain prosperity for Belgium, he stole the resources from this land. He took children and forced them into labor, he cut off limbs, and destroyed entire villages. The brutality he imposed on the Congolese was inhumane to say the least. Their resources, such as ivory and rubber, will never be returned. This increased the wealth of his country but at the expense of another.
#6: Attila the Hun
Ruler of the Huns (434-453)
After the death of his brother, Attila became the sole leader of the Huns. He sought to expand his land by invading other territories through unrelenting warfare. Even when he was unsuccessful, he found a new target and continued his efforts. Attila was ruthless and unstoppable, and his reputation preceded him. The stories about his terror reached future victims before he had even crossed their border. The Huns were arguably the most feared opponent of the Eastern Roman Empire because of the ferocity of the troops. Attila capitalized on their fright by making his targets pay copious amounts of gold to the Huns to prevent violence against them. If it weren’t for his life unexpectedly ending, who knows how much land he would have conquered?
#5: Idi Amin
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President of Uganda (1971-79)
This officer took over the presidency by force and instigated a series of terrible campaigns. For one, he invested so much money into the military, he ruptured the economic progress of Uganda. Through his encouragement of poaching, around 75% of Uganda’s elephants, lions, and crocodiles were destroyed. Besides financially harming Uganda, he implemented a state of terror. Those targeted included but were not limited to journalists, students, and politicians. He also displaced and took the properties of over 80,000 Asian residents. Many lives were lost in the torture chambers he instilled. Rumor has it that he was also a cannibal - though he refuted these claims by saying humans were too salty for his liking.
#4: Mao Zedong
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Chairman of the Communist Party of China (1943-76)
People who defend this leader say that he modernized China, gave women rights, offered healthcare, and improved education. While those are positive elements, many argue his methods shouldn’t have come at the cost of approximately 40 to 80 million lives. He is the biggest mass murderer in recorded history and one of the deadliest dictators. His repressive reign included extreme labor abuses, prison farms, and a system of execution quotas. Any opposition he faced was quickly exterminated. He targeted culture, religion, and intellect, knowing that by disposing of scholars and artifacts he was better able to enforce his totalitarian ideologies.
#3: Pol Pot
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Prime Minister of Cambodia (1976-79)
The agrarian socialist vision Pol Pot saw for Cambodia ultimately led to more than 20% of the population being eradicated. For around four years, Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge waged a campaign of terror. They believed the citizens were being corrupted by outside ideologies. Cities were emptied and residents were sent to farms to partake in labor. Children were enlisted to commit inhumane crimes, innocent people were pickaxed, and starvation was common. Many of those who were disposed of were minorities. The systematic persecution of Cambodians significantly hurt the nation. Historians speculate that Pol Pot would have continued this system if not for the Vietnamese army invading in 1979.
#2: Joseph Stalin
Leader of the Soviet Union (1922-53)
This leader started from the bottom and worked his way up, creating policies so notable that they were identified as “Stalinism.” He industrialized the Soviet Union by forcing individual farmers to become a part of a state farm. If they disagreed they were eliminated. Those who survived on the state farms were often malnourished. “The Great Famine” quickly ensued and took out millions. The secret police also enforced Stalin’s dictatorship by reaching quotas of people to execute. If someone’s life was spared, they were sent to one of 500 labor camps. Stalin even went as far as purging a huge percentage of the Communist Party to instill fear into the public. It didn’t matter who you were, if you opposed Stalin, he would terminate you.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.
Mary I of England, Queen of England (1553-58)
She Earned Her Nickname ”Bloody Mary” by Burning Protestants at the Stake
Augusto Pinochet, President of Chile (1973-90)
Responsible for the Disappearance of Countless People
Ivan the Terrible, First Tsar of Russia (1547-84)
His Love for Torturing People Made Him Inhumane
#1: Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Germany (1933-45)
His attempts to create the “perfect race” resulted in the disposal of millions of Jews, people of color, those with disabilities, and more. Concentration camps were utilized to torture and kill many of these victims. Through experimentation and humiliation tactics, he strove to dehumanize those deemed inferior. Generations of families ended during his reign. Hitler’s single minded focus on national purity left the country in economic and social destruction. His horror was not limited to Germany. Hitler’s ally, Benito Mussolini, was inspired by him and also brought extreme antisemitism to Italy. Hitler’s political moves and hate-based policies brought about World War II, the most costly global conflict in history. He stands as an example of the dangers of tyrannical dictators.
Which of these leaders were you surprised did not make the list? Let us know down below.
