For what its worth the average dictator is even more concerned with public approval (or the facade of public approval) than their democratically elected colleag

For what its worth the average dictator is even more concerned with public approval (or the facade of public approval) than their democratically elected colleagues. They know their rule rests on a foundation built in sand, unlike a democratically elected politician that has the legitimacy of their institution and can expect to be in power until at least the end of their term. I didn't say this very well, but this is genuinely a well studied area in Political Science.