It is a political regime in which a small group of individuals exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public

Because officials are not elected and the citizens have little or no control in selecting leaders, they have much more leeway to develop policies that they “dictate” to the people

Individual freedoms are restricted They have a strong institutional underpinning

of ideology and they can be legitimate if the citizens under its rule recognize its authority

Sometimes authoritarianism is not ideological but rather driven by the large whims of those in power› Example: Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq

or Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba› “THE LEADER, IN ESSENCE, IS THE

REGIME”

A highly centralized regime that possesses some form of strong ideology whose goal is to maintain control over all fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy

Use violence as a took for remaking institutions and to destroy obstacles to change

Often emerges in cases where those who have power profess a radical or reactionary political attitude, both of which reject the status quo and see dramatic changes as indispensible and violence as necessary or even positive

Examples: Josef Stalin and the Soviet Union, Nazi German

The modern world example would the Communist North Korea, because it is dominated by an elaborate ideology that covers all aspects of life and is backed by violence, widespread fear, and the absence of even small personal freedoms

Coercion: public obedience is enforced through violence and surveillance

Co-optation: members of the public are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state and government, often through corporatism or clientelism› Corporatism: a method by which authoritarian and

totalitarian regimes attempt to solidify their control over the public and restricting those not set up or approved by the state

› Clientelism: the sate co-opts members of the public by providing special benefits or favors to a single person or small group in return for public support

Personality Cult: the public is encouraged to obey the leader based on his or her extraordinary qualities and compelling ideas

Definition: Rule by a single leader, with no clear regime or rules constraining that leadership

Primary Tools of Control: Patrimonialism-suppporters within the state benefit directly from their alliance with the ruler (corruption)

Examples: Zaire (Republic of Congo) under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko from 1965-1997

Definition: Rule by one or more military officials, often brought to power through a coup d’état

Primary Tools of Control: Control of the armed forces, sometimes also allied with businesses and state elites (bureaucratic authoritarianism)

Example: South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile

Definition: Rule by one political party, with other groups banned or excluded from power

Primary Tools of Control: Large party membership helps mobilize support and maintain public control, often in return for political and economic benefits

Examples: Mexico, Zimbabwe, Cuba, North Korea, China, Vietnam, and Laos

Definition: “Rule by God”; regime based on holy texts as foundation for regime and politics

Primary Tools of Control: Religious leadership and political leadership fused into single sovereign authority

Example: Iran and the Ayatollah Khomeini

Definition: Ruled by an elected leadership, though through procedures of questionable democratic legitimacy

Primary Tools of Control: Manipulation of democratic procedures such as vote rigging or harassment of opposition

Example: Nigeria