Authoritarianism

and Totalitarianism

Definitions

Authoritarian regime in which a small

group of individuals exercises power over
the state with no constitutional responsibility
to the public
Totalitarian centralized regime that
possesses some strong form of ideology
that seeks to transform and absorb
fundamental aspects of the state, society,
and economy

Sources of Nondemocratic Rule

Economic

Wealthier society = greater desire to assert

individual political rights

Well distributed wealth, large middle class would

undermine nondemocratic regimes.

High level of poverty, inequality

Two possibilities
Few in power resort to tyranny to defend their wealth
Regime emerges to forcibly redistribute wealth

Sources of Nondemocratic Rule

Societal

Political Culture
Religion

Some are more prone to nondemocratic

tendencies than others
Ex., Islam and Islamism
Religious codes are handed down from Allah
Not designed to protect/advance individual rights
View Western liberal democracy as egocentric,
atomized, ungodly, destructive, etc.

Authoritarian Means of Control

Coercion public obedience is forced through

violence and surveillance
Co-Optation public is brought into a beneficial
relationship with the state or government

Corporatism labor, businesses, other interest groups

bargain with the state over economic policy

This occurs in democracies, too, but in authoritarian states,

only state sanctioned groups may participate

Clientelism state provides specific benefits to a person

or group to elicit their support

Authoritarian Means of Control

Personality Cult promotion of the image

of a leader as someone who embodies the
spirit of the nation

Think Putin, Mao, Fidel, Saddam

Types of Authoritarian Rule

Personal and Monarchical Rule

Rule by a single leader, no clear regime or rules to

constrain the ruler
Tools of control

Patrimonialism supporters benefit from alliance with the

ruler (corruption, clientelism)

Examples

Saudi Arabian Royal Family

Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire (now DRC) from 1965 to 1997
Used nations diamond and copper wealth to enrich followers

Types of Authoritarian Rule

Military Rule

Rule by one or more military officials, brought to power

through a coup detat
Tools of control

Control of armed forces

Bureaucratic authoritarianism - alliances with business and
state elites

Examples

Augusto Pinochet in Chile, 1973 to 1990

Nigeria, 1966 to 1999 (many successive coups)

Types of Authoritarian Rule

One-Party Rule

Rule by one political party, other groups banned

or excluded from power
Tools of control

Large party membership mobilizes and maintains

control in return for benefits

Examples

Mexicos PRI Party, 1929 -1999

Chinese Communist Party, 1949 - Present

Types of Authoritarian Rule

Theocracy

Rule by God, with religious texts as the foundation of the

regime and politics
Tools of control

Religious leadership is fused with political leadership into one

sovereign authority

Examples

Iran, 1979 Present

Afghanistan, 1996 2001
Elements of Saudi Arabian government, e.g., judicial matters
must conform to Islamic law, conversion from Islam is
punishable by death

Types of Authoritarian Rule

Illiberal Regimes

Rule by elected leadership, though procedures

are of questionable democratic legitimacy
Tools of control

Vote rigging, harassment of opposition,

propagandized control of the media

Examples

Nigeria in recent elections

Russia since Vladimir Putins election in 2000