Nondemocratic Regimes Chapter 6

Authoritarianism/Nondemocratic Regime

a political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public

Totalitarianism

A nondemocratic regime that is highly centralized, possessing some form of a strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy, using a wide array of institutions

Coercion

public obedience is enforced through violence and surveillance

Co-optation

members of the public are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state and government, often through corporatism and clientelism

Personality Cult

the public is encouraged to obey the leader, based on their extraordinary qualities and compelling activities

Personal and Monarchical Rule

Rule by a single leader with no clear regime or rules constraining that leadership

Patrimonialism

A variant of clientelism whereby a ruler depends on a collection of supporters within the state who gain direct benefits in return for enforcing the ruler's will

Military Rule

Rule by one or more military officials often brought to power through a coup d'etat

Bureaucratic Authoritarianism

A system in which the state bureaucracy and the military share a belief that a technocratic leadership, focused on rational, objective, and technical expertise, can sole the problems of the country without public participation

One Party Rule

Rule by one political party that bans or excludes other groups from power

Corporatism

A method of co-optation whereby authoritarian systems create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public and restrict those not set up or approved by the state

Rent Seeking

Privileged economic benefits mediated by political power

Kleptocracy

"Rule by theft" where those in power seek only to drain the state of assets and resources

Theocracy

"Rule by God" holy tests serve as the foundation for regime and politics

Illiberal Regimes

rule by an elected leadership through procedures or questionable democratic legitimacy

Characteristics of Authoritarian regimes

personal leader

a strong military

pretens(c)e of constitutionalism

one party dominance

controlled public participation

supportive interest groups

Populism

A political view that does not have a consistent ideological foundation, but that emphasizes hostility toward elites and established state and economic institutions and favors greater power in the hands of the public

Resource Curse

Theory of development in which the existence of natural resources in a given state is a barrier to modernization and democracy