Authoritarianism (right/left wing) Flashcards
(14 cards)
Define autocratic regime:
- Autocratic systems of government fall into the lawless regime type as per Plato and Aristotle.
How do lawless political systems work?
- Lawless political systems: Ruler or rulers govern absolutely according to unchecked whim and emotional desire. Those in power exploit society for their own self-interest.
what are the two types of autocratic regimes?
- Authoritarianism
- Totalitarianism
explain how elections work in this sort of regime.
- election may be held, but they are neither free nor fair.
- The outcome is rigged to the favour of those in power.
- They are used to provide a veneer of public support to legitimize the regime and its actions.
- As autocratic regimes, those in power rely principally on coercion.
what are the 4 characteristics of authoritarianism that applies to both left and right wing?
- Ideology
- Political recruitment/mobilization
- Limited political pluralism
- Few limits on the exercise of power
explain the Ideology characteristic (Right wing)
- conservative in their orientation
- Not keen on initiating reform but usually engage in economic reform
-Not committed to any particular ideology. It may pick and choose aspects of different ideologies if doing so will help it achieve it’s goals. - its central objective is to protect society from what it perceives as harmful in influences. (historically it was communism).
- its concerned with preserving society as it is or has been lost.
explain the political recruitment or mobilization characteristic (Right wing)
- no attempt is made to mobilize the population and get them involved in politics
- this is because, those in power fear that if the population was politically mobilized it would demand reforms.
- for this reason, attempts may be made to reform the economy.
- If people have jobs and basics, they are less likely to get politically active.
explain the limited political pluralism characteristic (Right wing)
- places constraints on political institutions and groups such as legislatures, political parties and interest groups.
- the formation of various political organizations, political parties, non governmental interest groups may be permitted.
- the gouv. may even work with some of these groups to achieve certain economic goals.
- however, if any group becomes too critical of the gouv, works for fundemental social changes, or is perceived by those in power as a threat. The gouv will act against it.
explain the few limits on the exercise of power characteristic (Right wing)
- those in charge are usually former military officers who seized power through a military coup.
- A military coup is when the government is violently overthrown by the military.
- As a result of this the military is used by the rulers as the primary coercive tool against society, and they do this because they trust the loyalty of the military.
explain the Ideology characteristic (Left wing)
- This type of regime posses an official ideology, it is usually some variation of socialism blended with nationalism.
- Furthermore, it will call for fundamental social transformation.
- Consequently the concept of revolution is often invoked.
- sometimes the official ideology will contain an element of central planning of the economy by gouv.
- this is one of the core elements of socialism.
explain the Political recruitment/mobilization characteristic (Left wing)
- They are encouraged because of the goal of fundamental social transformation (as outlined in the official ideology).
- its important that the people are seen to participate their involvement in fundamental social transformation of their society is seen as legitimizing the process.
- However, the gouv already has a blueprint going back to the official ideology, which lays out the path of the transformation.
- deviance from this path by the people will not be tolerated.
- The people are expected to participate but only participate in a way that those in power want them to.
explain the limited political pluralism characteristic (Left wing)
- same as right wing
explain the few limits on the exercise of power characteristic (Left wing)
- There are few limits on the exercise of power and this is due to the absence of a constitution.
- The police are used as the primary coercive tool against the population, and this has been referred to as police terrorism.
Give examples of right wing and left wing authoritarianism regimes
Right-wing
- Turkey, Brazil, Greece, Chile, Argentina
Left-wing
- Cuba (fidel castro), Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.
