1Why is it so hard to categories authoritarian regimes?
They variate from regime to regime based on who holds power.
In other words it is easier to describe authoritarianism as a degree.
2Common features of authoritarian regimes.
• No real turnover of executive power
• No meaningful electoral competition
• Rule serves narrow elites
3What is totalitarianism?
An extreme form of authoritarianism.
4What are some tools authoritarian regimes use to hold power / survive?
• repression
• co-optation
• "democratic" institutions / or in other words institutions that try to pretend to be democratic
5What do totalitarian regimes seek?
Total power to transform:
society and human nature
6When speaking of categorical typologies of authoritarianism, what types of authoritarian regimes exist?
• Personalist dictatorship
• Single-party regime
• Military regimes
• Monarchical dictatorship
7Give some characteristics of personalist dictatorships.
Leadership: ruled by one person who exercises power without restraint
Ideology: depends on the dictator
Longevity: durable because of lack of institutions
8Give some characteristics of single-party regimes.
Leadership: A single, well organised, autonomous party
Ideology: Very precise and seeks to legitimate the party in power.
Longevity: very durable because of well organised institutions and the manifestation of ideology.
9Give some characteristrics about military regimes.
Leadership: power lies in the military
Ideology: right wing / nationalist
Longevity: short because of splits within the military, they are not made for politics
10Give some characteristics about monarchical dictatorships.
Leadership: the head of state is a person of royal descent
Ideology: varies
Longevity: durable because of smoother transmition of power with heritage
11What are hybrid regimes?
Hybrid regimes are systems that combine democratic institutions with authoritarian practices.
But because they violate the rules too often they dont meet standards of democracy.
12Describe the causeof Hungary under Orban.
• gained power through lawfare
• exercice judicial control
• capture Media
• electoral manipulation
• reforms that favour the ruling party
13Give some advantages and risks of repression for the authoritarian regime.
Advantages:
• helps maintain control
• data shows the more repressive a regime is the more it survives
Risks:
• Lack of information about the mood of the society
• Security forces exercice high levels of power which makes them a potential risk for the regime
14Why do authoritarian regimes need legitimacy and how to they obtain it?
In order to avoid revolutions or rebellious behaviour.
They gain legitimacy through economic performance and ideological propaganda.
15What is co-optation?
The strategic incorporation of relevant actors or groups into regime elite in order to secure their loyalty.
16Why do authoritarian regimes make use of "democratic institutions?
To boost public support and to spread the ideology
they instaure "democratic" institutions which are in reality corrupted.