People vote for strongmen because they feel insecure in the world around them and the strongman promised to use his strength to put the world right (meaning the insecure voter on top again)

They always fail to realize that a politician of any breed is deeply self interested. They would not stop to piss on you if were on fire. The only person on top when they win is the strongman themself. So of course the voter now feels more insecure in the world and votes for a stronger strongman next time. Then one day they don't get to vote any more.