4. How do autocratic political regimes stay in power? Flashcards
Number of people living in autocratic regimes
More than 1 billion
Definition of an autocracy
Rule by one, but can also mean rule by a small group of people
Who studied the totalitarian regimes ?
Juan Linz, Spanish
3 characteristics of a totalitarian regime according to Juan Linz
- Single party
- Official and genuine ideology, basis for policy
- Active mobilisation of population, support for the regime
Definition of the ideology
Set of ideas through which people see the world
Another common characteristic of totalitarian regimes ?
Political terrorism
What is political terrorism ?
The government’s arbitrary use of severe coercion against individuals and groups, or the credible threat thereof.
Why didn’t exist totalitarianism before WW2 ?
The modern technology necessary to communicate did not exist
The change of regime starts with…
The appearance of dissidents (Eastern Europe 80-90s)
The post-totalitarian phase often involves a lot of…
Corruption (people join the party out of opportunism and not personal conviction)
What is a sultanistic regime ?
A regime built around an individual and his family or close associates who plunder the resources of the country for their personal gain
Sultanistic regimes also called…
Personalistic regimes
Sultanistic are based on…
Personal rulership and not on ideology
People who surround the sultanistic ruler recruited on…
Loyalty and not talent
Examples of sultanistic regimes
Kadhafi’s Libya, Marco’s Philippines, Uganda’s Idi Amin, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, Assad’s Syria
Sultans want to control their people, and not interested in
Mobilising them
What are authoritarian regimes ?
The “residual category” : non-democratic regimes that are not totalitarian and not sultanistic.
The great majority of autocratic regimes is
Authoritarian
4 categories of authoritarian regimes
- Traditional : based on hereditary monarchy
- Theocratic : rule based on religion, predominance of clergy
- Electoral : ruling party and president, but not free nor fair elections, but the gvt claims legitimacy (PRI Mexico)
- Military : directly or indireclty (Myanmar, Pakistan)
Who can declare war in the US ?
The Congress only
Role of political culture towards the military ?
Allowing and maintaining military rule.
How do autocratic regimes maintain control if they are not legitimate ?
Political secret police that punishes disloyalty.
What are the juntas ?
Councils, substitute for cabinets in military regimes.
Other than the appearance of dissidents, what can help to get out of an autocratic regime ?
Pressure from democratic governments and international organisations.
