Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Breakdown

1. POL 252
Fall 2014

4.  Who Rules?
 Answer: Single Individual or Small Elite
 Political Participation: Players and Rules
 No Democratic Accountability
 Court System
 Constitutional Guarantees

5.  Connection to “waves” of democratization
 Declined significantly in 1970s
 Number have still taken and maintained power
Robert
Mugabe
Fidel
Castro

8.  Socialist economy + Authoritarian Politics
 Common Features:
 Encompassing Ideology
 Single Political Party led by Dominant Leader
 Mobilization of Support for Party and Leader
 State Ownership of Media
 Use of Terror and Violence

9. Joseph Stalin
(Soviet Union)
Historical and
Current Examples
of Totalitarian
States
Adolf Hitler
(Germany)
Mao Zedong
(China)
Kim Jong-un
(North Korea)

11.  Monarchies
 Military Dictatorships
 Civilian Dictatorships

17.  Who Rules?
 Emphasis on Royal Descent
 Political power and authority is variable
 Ceremonial duties to major policy decisions
 Challenge is asserting political legitimacy
 Without election, how do you make citizens happy?

19.  Common rule from
World War II to 1980s
 Africa
 Asia
 Latin America
 Middle East
 Who Rules?
 Group of military officers
 Power by coup d'état

21.  How does military consolidate power?
 Cannot use violence
 Must convince citizens of right to rule
 Three Responses:
 Return to Democratic Rule…eventually…
 Hold Elections…but military party has advantages
 Defend Nation Against Internal/External Threats

22.  Martial Law
 Curfews, Banning Protests/Demonstrations
 Use of Spies/Informants
 Mission: Find and Kill Dissidents
 Ban Opposition Media Outlets

24.  Dominant Party
 Personalistic

26. COMMUNIST REGIMES
 Organization
 Hierarchy
 Rise to Power
and Legitimacy
 Revolution
 Nationalism
FASCIST REGIMES
 Organization
 Dominant Political Figure
 Rise to Power
and Legitimacy
 Ideology
 Promotion of “Democracy”
 Charismatic Leadership

28.  Person supported by party or military
 Retention of political control and authority
 Characteristics:
 Weak or nonexistent press
 Strong secret police
 Arbitrary use of state violence

31.  Contests are not “free” and fair,” heavily
favoring the ruling party

33.  Historical Institutionalism
 Poverty and Inequality
 State Weakness and Failure
 Political Culture
 Barriers to Collective Action