The Soviet Union went from being a relatively weak country to a global superpower, largely because it had to. Before World War II, the USSR had immense potential—plenty of resources, land, and people—but it didn't fully harness that power until external threats pushed it to industrialize and mobilize on an enormous scale. Even Hitler, who invaded the USSR, probably didn't anticipate it becoming such a dominant force.

This got me thinking: could other dictatorships do the same? Most dictators prioritize staying in power above all else. They focus on maintaining control rather than developing their countries into major powers. For them, it often doesn't matter if the country is weak, as long as they remain in charge.

But what if a dictatorship decided to "put the pedal to the metal" and push their nation to its limits—like the USSR did in the mid-twentieth century? Could they transform into a regional or even global power, despite modern challenges? Or are those kinds of opportunities gone in today's world?