Bureaucratic Authoritarianism

Martz

Origins of BA

• Elimination of populist forces through a repressive state apparatus [200]

• Technocratic elite + armed forces• Centralized control of public policy• More likely at lower level of

modernization

Origins

• Interest in Brazil & Argentina– econ progress NOT linked to

democ• Expand to include Greece, Mexico,

Spain• Too much generalizing from

Southern Cone

Challenges

• Demise of BA regimes in 1980s• Collier questioned relevance of

import substitution crisis• Need for theory to explain cycles

of BA-competitive politics “restoration”

Transitions to democracy

• Focus on breakdown of BA• Praise for political democracy

– competition;participation;liberties• Major studies divided on defns

– some see elitism hiding

More transition studies

• Seligson doubts natural authoritarianism

• Malloy argued for cultural propensities to authoritarianism

• Booth links regime consolidation to character of elections

Interesting cases

• South Korea (mass protests)• Haiti • Chile• Eastern Europe

Political Culture dimension

• A concept often used and often contended

• easy and unsatisfying to use (Huntington)

• Wildavsky and APSA research program – “comparing countries by contrasting their

combinations of cultures”

Macridis on Authoritarian cultures

• Elitist: social darwinism• Irrational: myth to mobilise masses• Group mind: back to primitive society

Fascism

• Ideology based on negatives: against– class struggle– parlmt democracy– trade unions– pol parties– Treaty of Versailles– Jews– Communism

Fascism

• Positives: for– Nationalism– Expansionism– Communitarianism

• freedom=freedom to obey

– Leadership

Fascism

• Subordination of society– Army– Civil service– Church (passive)– Business– Middle class

• Only organized workers opposed

Fascism: Interpretations

• Abnormality• Capitalist contradictions• Stage of development• Psychology of atomization

Personality theory: Adorno

• Anti-semitic• Nationalist• Fear of outsiders• conservative• strict family

Personality theory: Adorno

• Authoritarian personality– Lower class– uneducated– paranoid

• Does not fit profile of Nazi support