Week 6 - Authoritarianism

Juan Linz and Alfred Stepan, Modern Nondemocratic Regimes, Essential Readings, pp. 267- 278] Authoritarian Regimes o Limited pluralism o Mentality o Constrained leadership o Weak mobilization 5 types of Regime o Democratic o Totalitarian o Authoritarian o Sultanistic o Post-Totalitarian Totalitarian o Non plural, official party has monopoly on power o Guiding ideology, holistic conception almost fervent zealotry o Intensive and extensive mobilization o Emphasis on charismatic leadership, but undefined limits and unpredictable Democracy o Responsible political, social and economic pluralism, different avenues for sources of influence apart from the state o Ideology that respects rule of law and rights and commitment to citizenship o Autonomous participation via citizens rather than state prescribed o Leadership based on elections and must be competitive Authoritarian o Limited political pluralism compared to that of social and economic. Limited opposition o No guiding ideology but distinct mentalities (crony capitalism?) o Limited mobilization except at certain times o Small group exercises power ill defined but predictable norms Post-totalitarian o Limited but not responsible pluralism Existence of parallel entities o Guiding ideology still exists but weakened commitment to pragmatism o Limited mobilization to ensure minimum degree of compliance , careerists and opportunists o Elitism and technocrats, internal democracy

Sultanism o Pluralism subject to despotic intervention o Arbitrary manipulation of symbols and glorification of leader o Coercive clientelistic methods of mobilization o Highly personalistic leadership, no rational constraints, cronyism, dynastic tendency

Barbara Geddes What we Know about democratization after 20 years Regime Transitions Military o Officer rule o Inherent instability lie within the risk of personalization of leadership and struggle decreases life span of regime o FMA in taking power o Likely to step down before economic crisis, negotiate orderly transitions Single Party o One part system although competition legal o Longest surviving form of authoritarian rule o Cooperation favoured over exclusion among members status quo maintained o Negotiate a transition than risk violent uprising Personalist o Access to office at discretion of leader o Short life span and narrow support base o Intermediate likelihood of transition but enjoy stability in cooperation of cliques due to personal incentives o Cling to power until external forces make them leave They may have had that effect in a few cases, but we cannot rule out the possibility that the likelihood of both pacts and stable democracy is increased by the existence of well established, coherent parties capable of making credible commitments to abide by pacts.