Lecture 5 - Authoritarianism

Question 1

what are the challenges within established democracies?

Answer 1

• undermining the rule of law
• attacking media freedom
• perverting elections
• discrimination and mistreatment of migrants

Question 2

Define authoritarianism

Answer 2

small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public

Question 3

Define: Nondemocratic regime

Answer 3

controlled by a small group of individuals who exercise power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public, public has little role in electing a leader, individual freedom if restricted

Question 4

Totalitarianism

Answer 4

Clearly defined ideology: seeks to transform and fuse the institutions of state, society, and the economy
- main objective: transform the total institutional fabric of a country to meet ideological goal. Ambition often leads to violence

Question 5

What is the relation between modernisation and nondemocratic rulers?

Answer 5

Modernisation can lead to instability which, Nondemocratic leaders promise stability and order.

Question 6

Define Oligarchy

Answer 6

Ruled by a few, Democratic states can sometimes resemble oligarchies => USA currently, technological oligarchy

Question 7

How can Nondemocratic rule spread/ stay?

Answer 7

• A week civil society may strengthen nondemocracy
  
  • The regime might act to absorb, monitor, or destroy independent organisations
  • But civil society can also promote nondemocratic tendencies through:
    
    • Ethnic favouritism, xenophobia

Question 8

Which region of the world is Democracy from?

Answer 8

• democracy is a Western/ Christian construct
• Values of individualism and secularism may not translate into other regions

Question 9

Corporationism

Answer 9

A method in which nondemocratic regimes attempted to solidify their control over the public by creating or sanctioning a limited number of organisations to represent the interests of the public

Question 10

Clientelism

Answer 10

providing specific benefits to people in return for public support

Question 11

Personality Cults

Answer 11

• embodies the spirit of the nation
• endowed with wisdom and strength far beyond the average individual
• Active use of media and art to reinforce this image

Question 12

Illiberal regimes

Answer 12

A regime where democratic institutions that rest on the rule of law are weakly institutionalised and poorly respected

Question 13

Why did communism collapse? Reform

Answer 13

• economic stagnation -> perestroika
• military weakness exposed in Afghanistan
• US v. USSR rivalry fires back up
• weakened media control -> glasnost
• weakening borders

Question 14

Why was reform successful in China

Answer 14

• same stressors in 1980s -> Tiananmen square uprising

Question 15

Features of Democratic Transition “Successes”

Answer 15

• greater economic development
• vibrant civil society
• history of democratic institutions
• experience with the rule of law

Question 16

How to evaluate societal transitions

Answer 16

• gender equality
• ## LGBTQ rights

Question 17

what is the role of the middle class in democracy?

Answer 17

often a characteristic of democracy, but there are nondemocratic regimes with a middle income class -> Russia