Authoritarianism

We constantly hear about the threat of authoritarianism, whether in the form of communist China or at the hands of people like Donald Trump in the United States. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction highlights classic forms of authoritarianism and considers the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today carry out elections.

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It considers how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton examines the life cycle of authoritarian regimes. How are they born? What challenges do they face during life? Why do they die? The author shows how factors such as natural resource wealth and cross-border collaboration can contribute to authoritarian durability. He also highlights the disturbing fact that even when authoritarian regimes collapse, voters often use their newfound democratic rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.

Autorentext
James Loxton is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Sydney. He is the award-winning author of Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle (2021) and co-editor of Life after Dictatorship: Authoritarian Successor Parties Worldwide (2018). He holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University.

Inhalt

• 1: What is Authoritarianism?

• 2: Varieties of Authoritarianism

• 3: The Birth of Authoritarian Regimes

• 4: The Life of Authoritarian Regimes

• 5: The Death of Authoritarian Regimes

• 6: The Puzzle of Authoritarian Durability

• 7: Legacies of Authoritarianism

• References

• Further Reading