There& #39;s a direct relationship between mediocrity and authoritarianism. Authoritarians value loyalty over competence, and so attract those who know they can never accomplish success based on their competence, but have a chance through groveling subservience to the authoritarian.
Authoritarian administrations have an anti-meritocratic culture. Smart people are pushed out, silenced, jailed, or killed. Critical thinking is seen as treason. This is one reason why authoritarian administrations fail so spectacularly in times of crisis.