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Chapter 6: Nondemocratic Regimes

Defining Nondemocratic Rule

Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Means of Control

Models of Nondemocratic Rule

Summary

How does this apply to Comparative Politics?

Section 2, “The origins and sources of non-democratic rule” provides us a set of hypothesis we can test using the comparative method.

Other refined hypotheses:

- Some countries are stuck in a “resource trap”. Revenues from nationalized natural resources allow the State full autonomy and means for capacity, not requiring participation by the people.

- Developing countries get caught in the “security trap”. The most developed and capable institution within the State is the military, and the military can not allow the State to fail.

1. Defining Nondemocratic Rule

Nondemocracy

Small group of individuals exercising power over the state

Government not constitutionally responsible to the public

Public has little or no role in selecting leaders

Individual freedom is restricted

Regime may be institutionalized and legitimate

Also called authoritarianism

1. Defining Nondemocratic Rule

Point of interest: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia all hold regular elections.

Totalitarianism, defined

Variant of nondemocracy

Often a misused term

Main features

Highly centralized

Strong ideology

Use violence to remake institutions

Seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of the state, society, and economy using a wide array of institutions

Rare form of government

1. Defining Nondemocratic Rule

Totalitarianism example: North Korea

Kim Jong-un, current supreme leader

State/party control of every facet of life

Jobs and education chosen by state

State-run media

No independent civil society or opposition

Widespread repression

Estimated 200,000 political prisoners

Prison camps include men, women, and children

1. Defining Nondemocratic Rule

1. The State (Non-Democracies)

(Changeable/volatile)

(Stable/fundamental)

Institutionalized

Regime/Government

1. Defining Nondemocratic Rule

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Why do some governments end up authoritarian?

Several explanations

Modernization

Elites

Society

International relations

Culture

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Modernization

Can be a disruptive and uneven process

Urbanization: transforms institutions and norms

Rural areas left behind

Infrastructure and technology access expands for some; others left behind

Economies and job markets shift

Social values and gender relations shift

Militaries or dictators promise order

Examples: Chile, 1973; Singapore; Thailand and the Persian Gulf today

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Elites

Entrenched elites unwilling to share power

May be reinforced with a resource trap

State resources without taxation

Unequal development stunts middle class

Economy fails to diversify

Resources are not portable, so control of resource requires controlling the state

Example: Mugabe’s Zimbabwe

Platinum and diamond wealth

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Society

Lack of civil society

Or social organization absorbed by a state or party

May rely on populism

Examples: Venezuela under Hugo Chavez

Chavez mobilized (mostly) poor voters against urban upper classes

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

International relations

Foreign occupation

USSR in Eastern Europe after WWII

Imperial legacy

Poor borders and ethnic divisions (Africa, Central Asia)

Foreign backing of nondemocratic forces

United States overthrows in Iran and Chile

Russia and Syria

China and Southeast Asia

2. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule

Culture

Some argue that democracy is a Western or Christian concept

Emphasis on individualism and secularism may not translate into other regions

Counter argument: many examples of non-Western democracy

Confucian: South Korea, Japan, Taiwan

Islamic: Tunisia, Indonesia, Turkey

Culture shapes form of democracy, not its presence or absence

3. Means of Control

How do authoritarian leaders maintain political control?

Several ways

Coercion

Co-optation

Personality cults

Coercion

Use of fear to discourage opposition

Can be targeted or indiscriminate violence

Sanctions include killing, torture, job loss

Requires surveillance to identify targets

Examples

China

Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) purges intellectuals and critics

Tiananmen Square (1989) army crackdown on student protestors

Iran (2009)

Basij militia threaten protestors

3. Means of Control

Limits to coercion

Can undermine regime legitimacy

May create more widespread grievances

Costly to maintain

Co-optation

Selectively providing benefits to key groups

Dependent on state for certain rewards

Variant 1: Corporatism

Defined

Create or sanction a limited number of organizations to represent the interests of the public

Restrict those not approved by the state

Examples

Cuba’s labor union

China and religious groups

3. Means of Control

Co-optation

Selectively providing benefits to key groups

Dependent on state for certain rewards

Variant 2: Clientelism

Defined

State provides specific benefits or Public Support

Highly targeted: individuals or small groups

May reward with exclusive trade agreements, jobs, goods, and rent-seeking

Example: Russia’s natural resources

3. Means of Control

Personality Cults

Veneration of leadership

Quasi-religious

Leader depiction

Embodies spirit of the nation

Endowed with wisdom and strength far beyond the average individual

Example: North Korea

The Kims (North Korea)

Ayatollahs (Iran)

Sultanate (Bruei)

3. Means of Control

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

Different forms

Personal or monarchy

Military

One-party

Theocracy

Illiberal or hybrid

Personal and Monarchical Rule

Ancient regime type

Depends on:

Charismatic and traditional legitimacy

Or patrimonialism

State and society are possessions of the ruler

Example: Zaire under Mobutu, Sultanate of Brunei

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

Military Rule

Rule by one or more military officials

Alternatively, may focus on technocratic rule (bureaucratic authoritarianism)

Often brought to power through coup d'état

Sometimes follows periods of unrest

Military leaders promise stability

Coercion is a common tool

Examples: Chile (1970s), Egypt since 2011, Putin’s Russia, Thailland since 2015

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

One-Party Rule

All other parties are banned or excluded from power

May be combined with

Totalitarianism

Corporatist rule

Examples: China

Newspapers, youth organizations, unions all linked to Communist Party (CP)

Party chooses who holds offices

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

Theocracy

Religion as the foundation of the regime

No true cases of modern theocracies

Examples have elements of theocratic rule

The Islamic Republic of Iran

Better classified as a hybrid regime

Cleric chosen as supreme leader

Controls military, justice, media, and mosque

Shapes Guardian Council

Guardian Council requires candidates to have Islamic credentials

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

Illiberal or Hybrid Regimes

Combines democracy and nondemocratic features

Rule by elected leadership

But through procedures of questionable democratic legitimacy

Common features

Weak or poorly respected rule of law

Executives hold an overwhelming degree of power

Elections are manipulated

Few rights or freedoms

Examples: Bangladesh, Iran, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela

4. Models of Nondemocratic Rule

5. Summary

Nondemocracy refers to a broad category of states.

Explanations. The upheaval of modernization, elite resource control, societal structures, international actors, and culture may reinforce nondemocratic rule.

Means of Control. Nondemocratic regimes may rely on coercion, co-optation, and personality cults to maintain control.

Major categories. Nondemocratic rule by monarchies, military rule, one-party states, theocracies, and illiberal/hybrid regimes.