Lecture 5: Autocracy and Autocratisation Flashcards
Linz’s criteria for an autocratic political regime
- limited pluralism
- no guiding ideology
- low political mobilisation
- leader/small group that exercises politicsl power
- limits on citizens’ rights
different autocracy types: hybrid regimes
-political system that is not a full democracy nor a full autocracy, and has been like so for minimum 2-3 years)
different autocracy types: electoral autocracy/competitive authoritarianism
-system of government which is notionally a democracy (i.e. elections to determine government)
-however, government exerts formal and informal power to control the electoral process in such a manner that only the sitting government can win the election
-fails to respect the 4 essential criteria of a minimal democracy
4 requirements of minimal democracy
- universal suffrage
- recurring, competitive, free elections
- more than one political party
- alternative and different information sources
why is there always a benefiting group of people?
-not a full democracy: leaders can keep power and financial gain
-not a full autocracy: regimes can get international aid and recognition