Ruler after revolution dreads possessor confiscating article (4)
I believe the answer is:
tsar
'ruler' is the definition.
(historical term for Russian king)
'after revolution dreads possessor confiscating article' is the wordplay.
'after revolution' is a reversal indicator (letters revolve back).
'dreads possessor' becomes 'rasta' (a Rastafarian might have dreadlocks).
'confiscating' is a deletion indicator.
'article' becomes 'a' (English indefinite article).
'rasta' written backwards gives 'atsar'.
'atsar' with 'a' removed is 'TSAR'.
(Other definitions for tsar that I've seen before include "Title given to the kings of Bulgaria" , "Formal rulings on Islamic law; was aft (anag.)" , "Male monarch" , "Supremo" , "Once-powerful Russian" .)