Authoritarian rule is a form of government in which a leader or group dominates society and restricts freedoms. It includes dictatorships, kleptocracies, oligarchic regimes, and authoritarian party systems. In most cases, authoritarian regimes are characterized by economic inequality and weak governmental institutions. They often use populist appeals and demonize the “other.” This type of governance is particularly attractive to citizens who are fearful of economic instability, who have been displaced by globalization, or who have experienced job loss.
Authoritarians weaponize the state by using justice ministries, public prosecutors’ offices, and tax and intelligence agencies to target political rivals, media companies, universities, businesses, and other groups for prosecution. In some cases, critics are charged with sedition or treason, while in others they may face petty offenses like defamation, unauthorized business activities, and failure to comply with obscure regulations. These attacks create a climate of fear and intimidation that can lead to declining civic participation and diminished political resilience.
In autocratic regimes, courts and legislatures take direct orders from the dictator, and in some cases they are “coup-proofed.” Rather than requiring a majority vote for certain policies, these institutions can implement them by decree. In this way, dictators can bypass constitutional checks and balances.
Many of today’s would-be autocrats exploit democratic dysfunction and play fast and loose with fundamental principles of rule of law. They seek to expand executive power through a cult of personality and by denigrating checks and balances as corrupt obstacles to their people’s will. They also play a game of constitutional hardball by targeting loopholes and pushing the boundaries of existing laws. This approach allows them to quickly dismantle the institutions that could prevent their rise to power and eventually become fully entrenched.