The economic factors that had influenced these three dictators reigns were the millions that were spent on the military forces. All three have also spent great amounts of money on themselves rather then their people. These dictators were well fed and did not suffer from the food shortages as did the vast majority of the population. Also contributing to the economic problems of all three countries was the fact that businessmen, intellectuals, and professors were all killed in an attempt to 'purge' the society of any ideology different than the leaders' ways.

The cultural factors that had influenced this time during these three dictators are varied. Both Pol Pot in Cambodia and Kim Il Sung in North Korea were greatly influenced by the Soviet and Chinese Communist Ideologies and cultures. They had adopted the "Revolutionary Culture" of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. Openness to outside or non-communist cultures was one of the punishable taboos imposed. For example, reading a foreign newspaper, singing a foreign song, or insulting the authority of one's country, were considered "crimes" that could lead to life imprisonment without trial. The media was owned and controlled entirely by the government. The people of these countries did not know the meaning of freedom of press, freedom of expression or freedom of speech. Instead, there was a personality cult culture created around Kim and Pol Pot, in the mold of the cults created around Stalin in the Soviet Union and Mao in China. As a result of spreading this kind of culture, the inexhaustible propaganda forced upon these nations created a semi-divine emperor as leader. 

The social factors that had influenced this time during these three dictators is the harsh repression of the people in result of a social upheaval. All three governments suffered from isolationist regimes, and mainly a lot of backwardness and intellectual stagnation. The countries were deprived of openness to other societies and nations. To keep control of their people these dictators made it impossible for their people to have any sort of contact with the outside world - thus eliminating contrary views and opposing their power, but also eliminating possible solutions to the economic problems that were quickly escalating. 

The Political factors that had influenced this time during these three dictators are a little different. Kim's rule was characterized by political isolationism (Westerners called North Korea the "Hermit Kingdom"), but all three dictators discouraged relations with neighboring countries. Kim was greatly influenced by Soviet Authorities when he was assigned intelligence gathering activities in Manchuria and trained in espionage, radio communications and sabotage. All three dictators adopted the Marxist- Leninist political ideology emphasizing the need for autonomy and self-reliance. Kim and Mao had created their own religions, and executed anyone not worshiping them or making spiritual references other than of their leaders. These religions stressed the benefits of sacrifice, austerity, discipline, dedication, unity, and patriotism. For Kim Il Sung it was described as an "Encyclopedic thought which provides a complete answer to any question that arises in the struggle for national liberation and class emancipation, in the building of Socialism and communism."

The physical factors that had influenced this time during these three dictators is the land... It basically comes down to all three countries; Cambodia, North Korea, and China were continually fighting for their land. North Korea wanted ownership of South Korea, Cambodia didn't want to get over-run by the Vietnamese, and China was battling Japan in the Sino-Japanese War. Even though these three countries are primarily agricultural countries they still could not produce enough food for their populations and thus millions died due to starvation.