Part 7/10:
As Ceaușescu cemented his power, he became increasingly enamored with the propaganda techniques employed by other dictators, such as Kim Il-sung of North Korea. He cultivated a bizarre cult of personality, positioning himself as the "Genius of the Carpathians." The propaganda machine worked tirelessly to craft his image, celebrating his leadership with grand parades and elaborately staged media narratives. By the 1970s, Ceaușescu had become synonymous with Romania itself; dissent, whether from political opponents or regular citizens, was met with harsh crackdowns.