Module 5: Government Systems: Non-Democratic Regimes

What is a non-democratic regime?

A political regime where a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public. These regimes deny citizens participation, competition, and liberty

What is totalitarianism, and how does it differ from other authoritarian regimes?

Totalitarianism is a form of authoritarianism characterized by the fusion of society, economy, and state under a totalistic ideology, often enforced with violence and terror. Unlike other authoritarian regimes, totalitarian states aim to convince people they are free or that freedom is undesirable and seek to control all aspects of public and private life, whereas other authoritarian regimes may allow some degree of individual freedom or social structures.

What are the key theories explaining non-democratic regimes?

• Modernization Theory: Less economic development leads to non-democracy (e.g., Iran, Imperial Japan).

• Elites Theory: Elites resist democratization to protect wealth (linked to the resource curse).

• Society Theory: Weak civil society leads to authoritarianism.

• International Relations Theory: Foreign powers support authoritarian regimes (Cold War, oil interests).

• Cultural Theory: Some cultural traditions (e.g., Confucianism, Islamic thought) may favor authoritarianism

What is the resource curse, and how does it affect democratization?

The resource curse refers to how countries rich in natural resources often struggle with democratization. Since elites in power do not rely on tax revenue from citizens, they have little incentive to provide political freedoms or public goods

What are the three main forms of political control in non-democratic regimes?

• Coercion: Using threats, purges, arbitrary arrests, and surveillance to control citizens (e.g., China's Social Credit System)​.

• Co-optation: Bringing individuals into a beneficial relationship with the regime (e.g., corporatism, clientelism)​.

• Personality Cults: Promoting a leader as a quasi-religious figure with extraordinary wisdom and strength, often with media reinforcement

What are the five main models of non-democratic governance?

• Personal and Monarchical Rule: Power concentrated in one individual, often hereditary, using patronage to maintain control (e.g., Saudi Arabia)​.

• Military Rule: The military takes power through coups, often with bureaucratic authoritarianism (e.g., Argentina, Thailand)​.

• One-Party Rule: A single party dominates, controlling government access (e.g., China, North Korea)​.

• Theocracy: Religious rule merges with state power (e.g., Iran, Vatican)​.

• Illiberal Regimes: Semi-democratic but with weak rule of law, election manipulation, and media control (e.g., Russia)

What are Eva Bellin’s key arguments in “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East”?

Bellin argues that authoritarianism in the Middle East persists due to:

• Strong coercive apparatuses backed by foreign powers.

• Rentier economies that provide state revenue without taxation.

• Weak civil society and opposition groups.

• The historical role of religion in governance.