POL S 204 Lecture Authoritarianism AKA dictatorship Autocracy Non democracy cid 127 What are the types of political power A can impose preference of X no B with out B s consent to the process The outcome preferred by A X is chosen while B consents to the process by which X was chose smaller groups have greater influence power strikes of controlling the state are high short run calculations by dictatorship to survive in effect are common Dictatorship Democracy Consent is the key cid 127 Why do we care Authoritarian history bad for people Key features of dictatorships The stakes are much higher short run calculations cid 127 Who matters to a dictator cid 127 military rich church labor unions celebrity status Dictator support group similar to coups Irregular transition Uncertainty trust will the dictators continue to be loyal to their supporters How do elites mitigate uncertainty allying with military threatening to withdraw revenues from dictator becoming part of government itself be in the cabinet Stakes are high 3 phases no limits no security use it or lose it 1 size power destroy enemies secure rev deprive your enemies of primary source of power raise money revenue quickly even if it is bad for long term take land high taxes print money latin America is a good example of dictatorship Coups cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 Venezuela current example 2 consolidate support among group that launches you into office cid 127 make promises to supporters tie hands generate trust spoils shared How do supporters enforce rights assemblies congress people feel represented Elections these institutions allow dictators to credibly commit to protect property interest of support group competing politica parties prove that it is the citizens choice but rigs elections Legislatures credibly commit to rights interests of insiders institutionalize power information flow who is thinking what it they are allowed to voice it smaller threat cid 127 membership allows elite s to craft bills for their interests 3 Repression make it hard for citizens group outside regime to organize protest challenge you terrorize citizens violate human rights torture speech dissent sexual Crack downs on protests size organized military police proliferation weakening of branches disorganize to make it more difficult for people to revolt Consequences of dictator s strategy to hold power 1 Tienimen Square cid 127 Green revolution democracy protests depicted in show Homeland Zimbabwe dictator Mugabie fertile land colonists very racist so kill them white farmers killed no food nothing to buy money worth more to burn for heat Pitfalls of parties legislatures 2 legislatures can conspire agaist regime opposition parties can grow beat the rigged elections Pitfalls of Repression 3 large military repress at home very divided fear of arbitrary ruler troops do not always obey orders to shoot repression can backfire create more enemies cid 127 massacres piss people off lose goodwill cold war berlin wall 1989 90 10 countries that fell Indonesia example consolidation power can lead to downfall cid 127 Mexico case study The Deal a entry of banks heavily regulated monopolies cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 b special privileges for a few banks c credit on favorable terms channeled to federal state gov politically favored firms d rents from regulation entry above normal profits charred with politicians cid 127 men and women marriage market example How does it work smoke filled room hands in every pot cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127