Authoritarianism and Its Variants

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to authoritarianism as discussed in the lecture notes.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by a concentration of power in a small group or individual, lacking democratic accountability.

Consolidated Authoritarianism

A form of authoritarianism defined along a continuum of democracy, often marked by limited competition and stifled public involvement.

Freedom House

An organization that reports on the state of democracy, political rights, and civil liberties globally.

Totalitarianism

An extreme form of authoritarianism that seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, often using an overarching ideology.

Types of Authoritarian Rule

Various forms of authoritarianism, including theocracy, personalist regimes, single-party rule, and military rule.

Personalist Rule

Authoritarian regimes where power is centered around a single individual, often not derived from hereditary lines or established parties.

Absolute Monarchy

A form of government where a single monarch holds supreme authority, often hereditary, as seen in Saudi Arabia.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests or religious leaders control the government, and ultimate authority is vested in religious doctrine.

Military Rule

A form of governance in which military leaders control the state, often following a coup d'état.

Competitive Authoritarianism

A regime type where democratic institutions exist but are undermined by the ruling party to maintain power, creating an uneven playing field for political competition.

Democracy Decline

The process through which democratic institutions and practices weaken, leading to increased authoritarian practices.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality, which are often restricted under authoritarian regimes.

Judicial Independence

The concept that the judiciary should be independent from the other branches of government, which is often compromised in authoritarian systems.

Electoral Arena

A sphere within competitive authoritarianism where elections occur but are heavily biased towards incumbents.

Legislative Arena

The domain where laws are debated and passed, often significantly weakened in authoritarian regimes.

Media Suppression

The systematic stifling of independent media and journalism to control public narratives and information.

Veneer of Liberal Democracy

The superficial appearance of democratic governance present in some authoritarian regimes that disguises their true non-democratic nature.