[rsynnott]

Typically, ridiculous authoritarian-state buildings mostly survive the transition into non-authoritarianism. Look at this thing! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_the_Parliament

(For whatever reason, the more authoritarian the state, the more inclined Dear Leader is to build stupid buildings. This seems to be a universal.)

[JohnFen]

Authoritarians have a very strong tendency toward insecurity and weakness. Being cruel and violent, plastering their name on everything, putting their picture up everywhere, and building ridiculous monuments to themselves are all pathological signs pointing toward someone trying to cover up for their own inadequacy.