Poli si midterm 2: Types of regimes

Illiberal Democracy

A hybrid regime with elections but weakened civil liberties, concentrated executive power, restricted media, and weak checks and balances.

Competitive Authoritarianism

A hybrid regime where elections exist but are fundamentally unfair; incumbents abuse state resources, harass opposition, and control media.

Monarchy

An authoritarian regime where dynasty, heritage, or bloodline decides power.

Military Dictatorship

An authoritarian regime where the military institution controls the state and suppresses civilian politics.

One‑Party Regime

An authoritarian regime where a single political party monopolizes power and opposition parties are banned.

Personalistic Dictatorship

An authoritarian regime centered on one leader who dominates institutions, builds a cult following, and rules through loyalty and fear.

Illiberal Democracy - Legitimacy & Base

Claims legitimacy through disadvantaged elections (Opponents have restricted freedoms and face polarized insitituions), represents majority will (traditional), and promises effectiveness; the ruling party uses state resources, media control, and courts to maintain power (the opposition is disadvantaged).

Competitive Authoritarianism - Legitimacy & Base

Disadvantaged elections (Not free or fair. Resources and institution used against opponents), effectiveness, national interest (traditional), and charismatic leadership; the ruling party uses state resources, media control, and repression to maintain power (the opposition is disadvantaged).

Monarchy - Legitimacy & Base

Claims traditional or religious legitimacy; Power is maintained through elite alliances, loyal forces, and strong identity (supporters).

Military Dictatorship - Legitimacy & Base

Claims legitimacy through effective order, national security, and national interest; Maintains power through juntas, emergency decrees, and security institutions (military and police forces).

One‑Party Regime - Legitimacy & Base

Claims ideological legitimacy nationalism (strong national identity), socialism (for the working class), and revolution (reform and major change); organizational base is elite parties, mass organizations (mobilize and monitor citizens), survillance/policing.

Personalistic Dictatorship - Legitimacy & Base

Claims charismatic legitimacy (cult-like following legitimizes leader); organizational base is patronage networks, loyalists, and security services (legalized coercion). Opponents are silenced and banned.

Illiberal Democracy - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: elections, nationalism, effectiveness Sticks: media control, legal harassment, surveillance, emergency powers.

Competitive Authoritarianism - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: elections, selective access to state resources, effectiveness. Sticks: election manipulation, intimidation, biased courts, police repression.

Monarchy - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: welfare distribution, elite privileges, stability. Sticks: secret police (loyal only to the crown), repression (mostly in censorship), restricted opposition (poltical opponents restricted)

Military Dictatorship - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: order, security, economic management. Sticks: martial law, arrests, torture, bans on political parties.

One‑Party Regime - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: party membership benefits, jobs, social services. Sticks: surveillance, censorship, imprisonment, forced loyalty.

Personalistic Dictatorship - Carrots & Sticks

Carrots: patronage, personal rewards. Sticks: fear, purges, arbitrary violence, secret police.

Illiberal Democracy - Threats

Institutional decay, polarization (can lead to authoritarianism as elites fight for power), less effectiveness, elite splits, and mass protest/mobilization.

Competitive Authoritarianism - Threats

less effective, unified opposition (protests and mass mobilization), loss of control of elections, and loss of control of media

Monarchy - Threats

Succession crises (new heritage takes over), loss of alliances (allied institutions or countries), and loss of traditional legitimacy (monarchy seen as outdated).

Military Dictatorship - Threats

Lack of civilian legitimacy (national interest not legitimized, examples: public protest and lack of support), internal military splits, and military withdrawal.

One‑Party Regime - Threats

less effective, ideological decay, fragmentation, and mass protest.

Personalistic Dictatorship - Threats

Succession problems, not effective, and less support (loss of charisma): democratization via coups, elite defection, or uprisings.

Illiberal Democracy - Examples

Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Singapore.

Competitive Authoritarianism - Examples

Russia (early 2000s), Malaysia (pre‑2018), Venezuela (early Chávez), Serbia (1990s).

Monarchy - Examples

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco.

Military Dictatorship - Examples

Myanmar, Egypt, Thailand (coup periods), Chile (Pinochet).

One‑Party Regime - Examples

China, Cuba, Vietnam.

Personalistic Dictatorship - Examples

North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uganda.

What is a liberal democracy?

A system combining electoral representation and rights, with free and fair elections, rule of law, civil liberties, and constraints on executive power.

What are the legitimacy of liberal democracy?

Rational‑legal authority (primary), effectiveness (economic performance), and secondary: traditional authority (national identity) and charismatic appeals by leaders.

What is the organizational base of liberal democracy?

Competitive political parties, an independent judiciary, free media, civil society, professional bureaucrac, and rule‑bound elections.

What are the 'carrots' used by liberal democracies?

Rights protections, public goods, economic opportunity, representation, and social programs.

What are the 'sticks' used by liberal democracies?

Legal penalties enforced through due process, constitutional limits, and regulated state force.

What are key threats to liberal democracy?

Polarization (no mutual agreement), majority tyranny (minorities undermined), erosion of norms, declining trust, and weak party gatekeeping (radical or extreme groups gain power).

What examples of liberal democracies were given in lecture?

Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, and Uruguay.

What is a theocracy?

A regime where religious authority is the basis of rule; political power is held by religious leaders or justified through religious doctrine.

What are the legitimacy claims of a theocracy?

Traditional religious authority, divine mandate, sacred law, spiritual leadership (charismatic), and promised moral/righteous rule.

What is the organizational base of a theocracy?

religious leaders, religious courts, religious police, loyal forces, and state-aligned religious institutions.

What kinds of authority does a theocracy rely on?

Primarily traditional and religious authority; often charismatic authority; and rational‑legal authority through codified religious law.

What are the 'carrots' used by theocracies?

Religious welfare networks (charity, social services, and community institutions), spiritual legitimacy, and social benefits tied to religious institutions.

What are the 'sticks' used by theocracies?

Religious police, censorship, and punishment for heresy or dissent

What are key threats to theocratic regimes?

Generational differences (less religious belief), religious leaders disagreeing, corruption (harms legitimacy), and elite fragmentation.

What examples of theocracies were given in lecture?

Iran (primary example); Taliban Afghanistan fits theocratic‑militant hybrid.