Competitive Authoritarianism

Question 1

Defintion of competitive authoritatianism

Answer 1

Hybrid regimes that
A. Formal democratic institutions to OBTAIN and EXERCISE political authority
Incumbents VIOLATE democratic rules OFTEN SIGNIFICANTLY

Question 2

Why are CA not fully demoractic

Answer 2

• Uneven playing field between government/oppostion
  • Regular elections free of massive fraud
  • Incumbents abuse resources, control media, harrass opposition

Question 3

Why are ca not fully authoritarian

Answer 3

Incumbents can’t eliminate democratic rules

- Can't ban opposition/independent media
- Use bribery, co-optation, subtle forms of persecution

Question 4

What is the role of opposition

Answer 4

• Periodically challenge, weaken, or defeat incumbent

- Opposition can contest several arenas

Question 5

What are four arenas of democratic contestation

Answer 5

1. Electoral arena
2. Legislative arena
3. Judicial arena
4. media

Question 6

What is in electoral arena

Answer 6

• Elections bitterly fought
• Abuse state power/biased media/harras opposition
• BUT Regularly held, kinda competitive
• If manipulate results, can risk end of regime

Question 7

What is the legislative arena

Answer 7

• Legislatures = weak
• BUT Can become focal point for opposition
  • Organize
  • Public platform

Question 8

What is judicial arena

Answer 8

• Governments can interfered judiciary through
  • Bribery
  • Extortion
  • Co-optation
• BUT strong judges can find openings
  • Limit powers of president
  • Protect media/opposition from persecution

Question 9

What is media arena

Answer 9

- Government can suppress through
	• Bribery
	• Selective state advertising
	• Tax investigations
- BUT efforts can cost incumbents
	• Independent media exists, influential
	• Journalists expose government violations

Question 10

Why CA after cold war

Answer 10

1. Closed authoritatin regime -> not acceptable
   
   1. widespread acceptance of democracy
   2. Show democracy for economic/military aid
2. Democracy = weak
   
   1. Unstable = High levels of poverty, illiteracy, weak states civil society
   2. Missing conditions for democracy to emerge

Question 11

What are the three paths to CA

Answer 11

1. Decay of closed authoritarian regime
2. Collapse of authoritarian regime
3. decay of democracy

Question 12

What is the first path to CA and explain

Answer 12

1. Decay of closed authoritarian regime
   
   1. Must adompt democratic instutions (eg elections
   2. Opposition weakens -> failed transition

Question 13

What is the second path to CA and explain

Answer 13

2. Collapse of authoritarian regime
   
   1. Weak electoral regime
      
      2. Abscent of democratic traditions

Question 14

What is the third path to CA and explain

Answer 14

3. Decay of democracy
   
   1. Political/economic crises
      
      2. Freely elected governments = more autocratic