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