What are the principles and ideals that shape a dictatorship?

Dictatorships are totalitarian, which means that the government regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life. In order for this to work, the government usually has to have some form of support from the people. Usually the dictator is glorified through the use of propaganda so that everything good that happens to the country is attributed to his leadership. We see this a lot in North Korea, where Kim Jong-Il and his father are worshiped as gods. All dictatorships also have a very powerful military to suppress rebellion. It is essential to the regime to keep up the appearance that everyone is happy with the government the way it is. Otherwise, the people would overthrow it because their rights are being abused. Basically, dictatorships have to give the impression that they control everything.