Pol 252_SP15_ authoritarian_regimes_democratic_breakdown

1. POL 252-01
Spring 2015

3. “What I continue to believe is that
an authoritarian model, in this day and age,
is going to be less and less sustainable…
Part of it is just the flow of information.
Authoritarianism to some degree depends on the
ignorance of people, and the Internet and social
media means people have access to information.”
Who might have said this?

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

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

9.  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 ofTerror andViolence

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

12.  Monarchies
 Military Dictatorships
 Civilian Dictatorships

18.  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?

20.  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

22.  #1: Breakthrough Coup
-Traditional elite overthrown by military
 #2:Veto Coup
- High-ranking officers order repression of mass movement
 #3: Guardian Coup (“Musical Chairs” Coup)
- Power seized for efficiency, national security, or corruption
- Leadership shifts between military and citizens
 #4: Bloodless Coup
- Threat of violence enough to defer coup from happening
 #5: Self Coup
- Assumption of power through co-opting institutions
- Declaration of “emergency” powers

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

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

26.  Dominant Party
 Personalistic

28. 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

30.  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

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

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