Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism

Opposite of democracy

Reasons for Authoritarian Revival

1. Failed Transition States - states that attempted to become democratic fail, and therefore slowly shift towards authoritarianism

2. Greater Level of Sophistication - Authoritarian regimes are now very sophisticated (China)

3. Growing internationalization of confrontation between authoritarian and democratic regimes

Types of Authoritarian Transition

-Authoritarian persistence; change of a government, but it’s still authoritarian

-Democratic breakdown; breakdown of an infant democracy leading to authoritarianism

Causes for Authoritarian Persistence

1. Poverty and Inequality

2. State weakness and failure

3. Political culture

4. Elitist/Non-democratic rules

Poverty and Inequality Reason

Theory: High levels of poverty lead to more authoritarianism

-Factors like economic collapse/income inequality are often predictors of a shift to authoritarianism

-Poverty leads people to focus more on basic needs than liberties

State weakness and Failure

Theory: States with weak/failing institutions are likelier to have authoritarian regimes

-Well-institutionalized states tend to be less personalistic

-Weak institutions allow for predatory states or regimes

Political Culture

-people in more “culturally authoritarian” are more likely to keep this value

-Asian values for example emphasize obedience and discipline over individual rights

Elites and Non-democratic Rule

Theory: In highly unequal societies, those who are at the top of the monetary power will also monopolize political power

-Elites will not share any political power with the average citizen

-Elites will use this power to siphon resources to grow their own power/wealth