1. Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 nation’s diamond and copper wealth to enrich followers

8. Types of Authoritarian Rule
Military Rule
Rule by one or more military officials, brought to power through a coup d’etat
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)

9. 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
Mexico’s PRI Party,
Chinese Communist Party, Present

10. 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

11. 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 Putin’s election in 2000