114-C6 Authoritarian regime

• Features of authoritarian rule (1):

  • A poor record on representative government, with elections - where they are held - often accompanied by fraud, manipulation, and violence
  • Weak, immature, or poorly defined political institutions and processes, with a centralisation of power in the hands of leaders and elites
  • A limited selection of forms of political participation and representation, and no guarantees that the voices of citizens will be heard effectively
• Features of authoritarian rule (2):

  • Relatively few limits on the powers of government, and a mixed record on the protection of individual rights and freedoms, with no independent judiciary.
  • An opposition that is constrained, and subject to coercion and even violence
  • A limited and controlled media establishment, subject to political controls and free to share only officially sanctioned opinions
• HYBRID REGIMES: Political systems that have some of the appearances of being democratic, but institutions, processes, laws, and policies are manipulated to keep rulers or elite groups in power.

  • Combine elements of democracy and authoritarianism having weaknesses both in political culture and functioning of government
  • widespread corruption, weak civil society and the rule of law, judiciary lacking independence and journalists are harassed
• Traits of Hybrid regimes:

  • The leaders and ruling parties use state resources and their influence over the media before campaigns begin
  • Normally founded on a powerful leader or political party, rather than on strong institutions
  • Law is used selectively as a tool of power => "for my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law" - Getúlio Vargas (one-time Brazil President)
  • Might be unstable in the long run
• AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES -> not neccessarily evil BUT stable and disciplined

  • Regimes based on submission to authority, characterized by ruling elites, limited political pluralism, centralized political control, intolerance of opposition, and human rights abuses
  • Ex: Iran, China, NK, and VIETNAM
• AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES:

  • Despotism

  The exercise of absolute power, often characterized by the abuse of the powers of office, arbitrary choices and the use of violent intimidation. The term is interchangeable with dictatorship, tyranny and autocracy

  -> Ex: Libya under Gaddafi

  
  

  - While authoritarian leaders might appear belligerent, their actions driven by fear & vulnerability

  => Shakespear: "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown",

  expanded by Churchill: "Dictators ride to and fro on tigers from which they dare not dismount"
• 4 Key control devices of leaders in authoritarian regime:

  • Military: High spending on armed forces, a drag on economic performance
  • Coercion: The use of threats or sanctions against groups or individuals as a means of compelling them either to undertake or desist from a particular course of action
  • Patronage: The use of state resources by leaders to reward those providing support to the regime
  • Media: Control of the media to ensure favourable coverage
• 5 FORMS OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE (1):

  • Absolute monarchy: A ruling sovereign exerts control, with other members of the royal family in key political and military posts

  => Ex: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

  • Personal rule: The presidency dominates government and the media, with opponents kept off-guard and the opposition marginalized

  => Ex: Several former Soviet republics (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan) Sub-Saharan African states

  • Ruling parties: Rule by a single party, often combined with a strong president

  => Ex: Many African states and remaining communist states
• 5 FORMS OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE (2):

  • Military government: Government by the military, often ruling through a junta comprising the leaders of each branch of the armed forces

  => Ex: Myanmar, Thailand

  • Theocracy: A rare form of rule in which religious leaders govern directly

  => Ex: Iran
• ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

  • A form of government in which a monarch wields absolute power over a state, and in which all other institutions of government are marginal.

  • Should not be confused with the limited powers of a constitutional monarchy.

  • In contrast to the constitutional monarchies of Europe, absolute monarchs still wield unlimited power.

  • Although the term monarchy means literally "rule by one", these countries are run by family businesses, rather than sole traders
• PERSONAL RULE

  • A form of rule in which authority is based less on the office held than on personal and often corrupt links between rulers and their patrons, associates, clients, and supporters.

  • It can be stable, however remains potentially unstable due to its dependence upon people rather than institutions

  • A cult of personality: an arrangement in which authoritarian leaders use the media, propaganda, and political institutions to make sure that they dominate how the wider population relates to a political system

  => Ex: USSR (Stalin), Nazi Germany (Hitler)
• RULING PARTIES

  - Communist parties (*: westernized view)

  - Ruling communist parties have loosened their direct control over the economy, while keeping a firm grip on political power

  => Ex: China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, NK

  *) Even if it's authoritarian, Vietnam still have more woman rights than US -> does not determine the human rights entirely.
• RULING PARTIES (2)

  Communist parties (1):

  • North Korea (1948): A brutal totalitarian regime led by the Kim family to three generations: Strong military influence. The official ideology stresses national independence and self-reliance
  • China (1949): The Communist Party retains tight political control while leading substantial and successful economic reform
  • Cuba (1961): Long dominated by Fidel Castro and then by his younger brother Raul. A new opening to the US since 2015 promises to bring change.
• RULING PARTIES (3)

  Communist parties (2):

  • Laos (1975): partly liberalized economy has grown significantly, albeit from a low base.
  • Vietnam (1976 - North Vietnam 1954): As in China, the Communist Party has initiated economic Reform while retaining a political monopoly.
• OTHER RULING PARTIES:

  • The party is often the vehicle rather than the driver, with real authority resting with a dominant president, military ruler, or political elite

  Example: National Democratic Party in Egypt
• MILITARY GOVERNMENT

  • Military governments are no longer as common as they once were

  • Coup d'etat is an illegal seizure of political power by the military

  • Military governments whose leaders came to power in a military coup and then transformed themselves into civilian leaders, or of regimes in which the military influences civilian governments from behind the scenes.

  => Ex: A bloodless coup in Thailand in 2006, the coup in Myanmar in 2021

  • Nowadays, in most cases, the military remains an important element in the civilian ruler's support base.
• MILITARY RULE

  • typically involves the suspension of all other key political institutions except the bureaucracy, the courts and the police
  • Based on the military principles of hierarchy and the absence of negotiation
  • Once in power, military governments have been typically headed by a ruling council made up of the leader of each branch of the armed forces, with one emerging as the dominant figure.

  Ex: Myanmar
• THEOCRACY (Quite similar to personal rule BUT it's religious rather than personal ideologies)

  • Government by religious leaders.

  - Islamic Republic: A state based on an Islamic constitution and full application of Islamic law (sharia), although the precise role of the latter is sometimes ambiguous

  => Ex: Iran

  - Real power lying with the clerics. The most senior of these is the Supreme Leader, who has a lifetime appointment as head of state, must be an expert in Islamic law, and has many executive powers, including control of foreign and economic policy.
• THE POLITICAL IMPACT OF CORRUPTION:

  • Corruption: the abuse of office for private gain
  • Corruption occurs when an official seeks or provides a benefit in exchange for an incentive, rather than on the basis of entitlement.
  • Various forms of political corruption: Electoral Fraud, A bribe, Influence peddling, Patronage, Nepotism, Embezzlement, Kickbacks
• Hybrid regime - Turkey: always want to join EU but fail to meet democratic consistency so no

  • 2014, Tayyip Erdogan - PM for 11 years, became first Turkey directly elected president
  • While mostly ceremonial position -> use to crack down dissent and opposition
  • 2016: attempted coup -> 300 people dead, Ergogan arrest thousands of Turks accused of supporting the coup
  • 2017: won a referendum supporting a switch to presidental system -> more power again
  • Insult president/country: crime, Erdogan limit media freedom

  => Democracy Index: ranking slipped several places, confirmed as hybrid regime
• Cenetral weakness of authoritarian regime: absence of a clear succession procedure (absolute monarchies apart) bcs no competitive elections to refresh leadership -> leaders continue in post until well past their sell-by dates

  => Libya case with Gaddafi (1)

  • Libya ruled by Gaddafi since 1969: textbook ex of despotism (tyranny/dictatorship). Came into power by military coup, never put his leadership to a test of an election
  • Arab Spring 2011: finally overthrown, but no arrangements for his succession
• Libya case with Gaddafi (2):

  • Until 2015: UN-brokered agreement -> new gov but failed to win general approval

  => This shows gov in authoritarian regime is often so closely tied to a single leader -> system falls apart after he is gone
• Case of China (1): world's largest population, 2nd biggest econ output

  • Since Mao Zedong, several generations of leaders support pro-market changes -> China become world's fastest growing economy
  • However: pol reform no quick, under control of Chinese Communist Party
  • Dissent, opposition controlled and limited
  • Corruption persistent problem
  • Human rights record is poor
• Case of China (2):

  • Form of gov: unitary communist republic
  • Executive: Once mainly ceremonial role of president -> recently powerful executive position; previous limit of two 5-year terms removed in 2018 -> lifetime tenure; general secretary of CPP powerful, State Council headed by premier, supervises the work of gov ministries
  • Legislature: Unicameral National People's Congress of nearly 3,000 members, chosen indirectly through local and provincial congresses, serving 5-yr terms. Meets only for brief periods, its work carried out when in recess by a 150-member Standing Committee
• China (3):

  • Judiciary: No independent constitutional court. Rule through law has strengthened but the judicial system remains underdeveloped
  • Electoral system: Elections have been introduced to many of China's villages and to some townships. However, elected officials still operate under the party's supervision. Indirect election is usual at higher level
  • Parties: single party. CPP remains the dominant political force, its leadership being a parallel gov within which most real power is focused

  => Democracy index: Authoritarian

  => Freedom house: Not free

  => Human development index: high
• Authoritarian rule in CN(1):

  • During Mao Zedong: btw totalitarianism and chaos
  • However, his successors began a process that saw CN moving towards new openness both in its politics and its econ policy - much has recently changed thanks to Xi Jinping (since 2013)
  • Gov continues to be dominated by CCP, but Xi was able to convince party in 2018 to convert position of president into a job for life + used campaign against corruption to tighten his control
• Authoritarian rule in CN (2):

  • Xi even integrated his own philosophy into constitution => considered "great rejuvenation" for CN in the world through econ+mil power, revitalized control of CPP over every corner of society, and a central role for Xi in Chinese leadership
  • Degree of CN pol control: ascribed mainly to the skills of the CPP in both maintaining its monopoly, while also become less intrusive and more supervisory
  • In local communities: informal networks of power-holders now determine 'who gets rich first' - a political market, not a free market
• Authoritarian rule in CN (3):

  • These alliances of political market compose of: well-placed party members, bureaucracy officials, army, local gov (provide favoured businesses - contracts, land, sympathetic regulations, info, supplies, transport, other subsidies)

  => China's era of reform is considered ending as its leaders have rejected fundamental changes to 1-party system

  • While create an impression of political stability and remarkable economic growth => reality is less positive: econ gap widened, entrenched interests of CPP deepened, collective governance of the past -> now: one-man rule
• The 6th/final form of authoritarian rule:

  TOTALITARIANISM:

  • The most absolute form of authoritarian rule, based either on a guiding ideology or the goal of major social change, with total control exercised by a leader, state, or party over all aspects of public and private life
  • rigid support is demanded for a supreme leader

  => Ex: only one left today - North Korea
• North Korea case of totalitarianism (1):

  • Rule by Kim Jong-Un since 2011: the leader who sits at the apex of a system controlled by a ruling dynasty (grandpa -> dad -> him)
  • Kim: uncontested holder of many key positions: chair of the ruling Workers' Party, chair of the Central Military Commission, and Supreme Commander of the military (rank of a Marshal - nguyên soái/thống chế)
  • Kim maintains a “cult of personality”: refer to charismatic leader cults, based on a pol leader and designed to enforce their power, magnify their ideology, and legitimize the rule of the gov associated with them
• NK case of totalitarianism (2):

  • Routinely abuse NK citizens' human rights and maintain a network of prison camps for the incorrigible (cannot be corrected) opponents of the regime
  • There is an elected Supreme People's Assembly: meets only twice annually for a few days. While elections are held within every 5 years, only 1 candidate is fielded for each district
  • Kim's power still not unlimited: rely on patronage of China, support of his military
  • Inflexible econ system -> not only stagnation but mass starvation