[cableshaft]

Fair point, so I guess if the leader gets really blatantly violent, along with enough government propaganda, it can stop a revolution.

[imtringued]

Luddites is also a good example. Oh, you are poor and starving and protesting on the streets? They start destroying machines? Time to arrest everyone, even those who did nothing.

[psychlops]

I'd also make the argument that it's easier to do with today's technology than when Stalin did it.

[rjtavares]

The propaganda is easier, the violence is harder. Don't know how that balances out...