why do authoritarian regimes survive?

media control

• through controlling the media, states can consolidate power and enforce its ideology on the population

• states can publish propaganda and information that aligns with the states interests and portray it in a positive manner

• it can also censor any media that may portray the state in a negative manner

• in poland in 2021, the ruling law and justice party passed legislation that curtailed press freedom by preventing non-european owners from having a controlling stake in polish media companies

cult of personality

• this when a leader is is deeply glorified and revered to such an extent that their followers view them as a godly figure and treat them as such with no real rationale

• leader is considered superhuman and is depicted as being the sole source of all that is good in society

• can be created by propaganda that paints them as a superhuman figure, rallies, and speeches for the leader to portray themselves as powerful

• this leads to citizens being brainwashed into believing that their leader is always right and that any criticism or opposition to their policies is unacceptable

• in nazi germany, hitler created a cult of personality by employing propaganda techniques such as mass rallies, military parades, and the extensive use of the mass media to portray himself as the only person who could transform germany into a powerful nation

economic growth

• states can alleviate social and economic problems that may drive its citizens to challenge the authoritarian regime, such as unemployment or food shortages

• this can reduce the chances of any threat/challenge to the regime

• china implemented a number of economic reforms in the 1980s that led to rapid economic growth and the elimination of extreme poverty

• as a result, the country has been able to maintain a strong degree of power

coercive tactics

• states can use the imprisonment of political opponents, the torture of individuals, and threats of violence such as overt displays of military power as various means of maintaining power

• russia, under putin’s leadership is a strong example of this

• during the 2018 elections, many opposing politicians and supporters were arrested or detained in the run up to the elections, and in the aftermath, authorities used physical force to quell protests against the election results

threat of external powers

• authoritarian regimes often use the threat of other countries to harbour a sense of isolation and fear amongst citizens

• this leads the population to believe that, without the regime, they would be unable to survive a hostile threat

• the government in north korea has made a number of claims that south korea, japan, and other western countries are conspiring with the united states to overthrow its government

• the sense of isolation generated from this pushes the population to believe that they need the government to resolve this threat

• thus, north korea maintains a degree of power