Popular Dictatorships: Crises, Mass Opinion, and the Rise of Electoral Authoritarianism

Electoral autocracies are the most widespread and resilient non-democracies today, ruling over a third of the world's countries. Popular Dictators argues that their success is due to their genuine popular appeal in countries experiencing deep political, economic, and security crises, making them the most significant threat to global peace and democracy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Electoral autocracies, characterized by the adoption of democratic institutions but their subversion to rule as dictatorships, have emerged as the most prevalent, resilient, and malignant non-democracies today. These regimes have consistently held sway over a significant portion of the world's countries, including geopolitically significant states such as Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Contrary to conventional beliefs, Popular Dictators challenges the notion that the success of electoral authoritarianism is solely attributed to these regimes' superior ability to repress, bribe, brainwash, and manipulate their societies into submission. Instead, the book argues that the appeal of these regimes stems from their genuine popularity among countries grappling with profound political, economic, and security crises. Elected strongmen promise efficient, strong-armed rule tempered by popular accountability, attracting widespread support in societies traumatized by turmoil, dysfunction, and injustice. By leveraging the ballot box, these strongmen are able to rule through legitimate means, presenting themselves as the solution to the crises plaguing their nations. Popular Dictators contends that this crisis legitimacy strategy makes electoral authoritarianism the most significant threat to global peace and democracy.

Electoral Autocracies: A Rising Threat to Global Peace and Democracy

Electoral autocracies, characterized by the adoption of democratic institutions but their subversion to rule as dictatorships, have emerged as the most prevalent, resilient, and malignant non-democracies today. These regimes have consistently held sway over a significant portion of the world's countries, including geopolitically significant states such as Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Contrary to conventional beliefs, Popular Dictators challenges the notion that the success of electoral authoritarianism is solely attributed to these regimes' superior ability to repress, bribe, brainwash, and manipulate their societies into submission. Instead, the book argues that the appeal of these regimes stems from their genuine popularity among countries grappling with profound political, economic, and security crises. Elected strongmen promise efficient, strong-armed rule tempered by popular accountability, attracting widespread support in societies traumatized by turmoil, dysfunction, and injustice. By leveraging the ballot box, these strongmen are able to rule through legitimate means, presenting themselves as the solution to the crises plaguing their nations. Popular Dictators contends that this crisis legitimacy strategy makes electoral authoritarianism the most significant threat to global peace and democracy.

The Popularity of Electoral Autocracy

Electoral autocracies have gained traction due to their ability to present themselves as the solution to the crises plaguing their nations. In countries experiencing deep political, economic, and security crises, the promise of efficient, strong-armed rule tempered by popular accountability resonates with the masses. Elected strongmen often exploit the grievances and discontent of the population, presenting themselves as the only ones capable of bringing stability, order, and progress. They often use populist rhetoric, appealing to the common man's aspirations for a better life and promising to address the root causes of their country's problems. This crisis legitimacy strategy allows electoral autocracies to maintain their grip on power, as the population perceives them as the only legitimate authority.

The Threat to Global Peace and Democracy

The success of electoral authoritarianism poses a significant threat to global peace and democracy. These regimes undermine the principles of free and fair elections, as they manipulate the political process to maintain their power. They often suppress opposition parties, restrict civil liberties, and curtail the media's freedom of expression. This suppression of dissent creates an environment of fear and intimidation, which hinders the development of a healthy democratic society. Moreover, electoral autocracies often engage in foreign policy decisions that prioritize their interests over international norms and values. They may use their influence to undermine neighboring countries, engage in territorial disputes, or support authoritarian regimes abroad. This aggressive stance can lead to regional instability, conflict, and the spread of authoritarianism.

Conclusion

In conclusion, electoral autocracies have become the most widespread, resilient, and malignant non-democracies today. Their success is not solely attributed to their superior capacity to repress, bribe, brainwash, and manipulate their societies into submission, but rather a product of their genuine popular appeal in countries experiencing deep political, economic, and security crises. Popular Dictators challenges the notion that the success of electoral authoritarianism is solely attributed to these regimes' superior ability to repress, bribe, brainwash, and manipulate their societies into submission, but rather a product of their genuine popular appeal in countries experiencing deep political, economic, and security crises. The success of electoral authoritarianism poses a significant threat to global peace and democracy. These regimes undermine the principles of free and fair elections, suppress dissent, engage in foreign policy decisions that prioritize their interests, and create an environment of fear and intimidation. It is essential to recognize the threat posed by electoral autocracies and work towards promoting democratic values, promoting human rights, and fostering regional stability.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009048477